Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median of $47,010 a year ($22.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,140 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 9% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $51,780. There are 0.45 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $45,300, close to the median.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Pittsburgh, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| 25th percentile | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Median | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 75th percentile | $51,780 | $24.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,140 | $27.47 |
| Average (mean) | $45,300 | $21.78 |
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 | $3,917.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,958.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,808.08 |
| Weekly | $904.04 |
| Hourly | $22.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $55,810 | 1,430 |
| Lancaster, PA | $52,560 | 220 |
| Reading, PA | $52,130 | 250 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $51,500 | 550 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $50,800 | 360 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $49,660 | 240 |
| Altoona, PA | $44,890 | 170 |
| Lebanon, PA | $40,010 | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $38,210 | 340 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $58,770 | $28.25 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,490 | $19.47 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,820 | $19.62 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,030 | $24.53 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,890 | $23.51 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $44,210 | $21.26 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $67,930 | $32.66 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,060 | $23.59 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | $36,090 | $17.35 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Pittsburgh, PA
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 Pittsburgh, PA?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $47,010 a year, or $22.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn at least $57,140 a year. The top 25% earn $51,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Pittsburgh, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,190 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $37,190 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Pittsburgh, PA?
About 500 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.