Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in North Carolina
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in North Carolina earn a median of $47,940 a year ($23.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,410 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $50,270. North Carolina ranks 32nd of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 0.97 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,480 | $17.06 |
| 25th percentile | $38,260 | $18.40 |
| Median | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| 75th percentile | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,410 | $30.49 |
| Average (mean) | $48,430 | $23.28 |
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 | $3,995 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,997.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,843.85 |
| Weekly | $921.92 |
| Hourly | $23.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,970 | 700 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,740 | 600 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,050 | 250 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,990 | 500 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,940 | 150 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $38,730 | 550 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Tire Builder | $63,950 | $30.74 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,770 | $21.04 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,140 | $23.63 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | $47,910 | $23.04 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in North Carolina is $47,940 a year, or $23.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in North Carolina earn at least $63,410 a year. The top 25% earn $56,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,480 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $38,260 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in North Carolina?
About 4,800 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.