Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Missouri
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Missouri earn a median of $47,560 a year ($22.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,400 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $50,270. Missouri ranks 36th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 0.53 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $49,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,370 | $17.96 |
| 25th percentile | $44,270 | $21.28 |
| Median | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| 75th percentile | $57,100 | $27.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Average (mean) | $49,550 | $23.82 |
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 | $3,963.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,981.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,829.23 |
| Weekly | $914.62 |
| Hourly | $22.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in cities in Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,570 | 680 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,220 | 720 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,180 | 130 |
| Springfield, MO | $45,440 | 70 |
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.
Related jobs in Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,420 | $26.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,000 | $24.52 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,930 | $24.49 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,470 | $22.82 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $46,870 | $22.53 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,380 | $22.30 |
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 Missouri?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Missouri is $47,560 a year, or $22.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Missouri?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Missouri earn at least $59,400 a year. The top 25% earn $57,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,370 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $44,270 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Missouri?
About 1,540 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.