Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $51,140 a year ($24.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,090 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 9% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $46,920. There are 0.77 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| 25th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Median | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| 75th percentile | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| Average (mean) | $51,700 | $24.86 |
Half of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,261.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,130.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,966.92 |
| Weekly | $983.46 |
| Hourly | $24.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,140 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $50,330 | 320 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $47,650 | 530 |
| Jackson, MS | $47,210 | 150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $46,920 | 480 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $46,530 | 260 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,150 | 160 |
| Jackson, TN | $45,900 | 420 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $44,450 | 220 |
| Morristown, TN | $36,330 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $63,640 |
| Maine | $61,780 |
| Utah | $60,790 |
| Washington | $59,410 |
| Louisiana | $58,230 |
| Minnesota | $58,150 |
| Kentucky | $58,050 |
| Wisconsin | $58,050 |
| Idaho | $57,950 |
| Oregon | $56,810 |
See Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,570 | $20.47 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $59,270 | $28.50 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $52,440 | $25.21 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,050 | $22.14 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,240 | $18.87 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,480 | $23.31 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,490 | $24.76 |
| Medical Appliance Technician | $34,230 | $16.46 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9196. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $51,140 a year, or $24.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $58,090 a year. The top 25% earn $57,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,110 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $48,360 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 470 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.