Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Richmond, VA
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $49,980 a year ($24.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 930 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,940 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is about the same as the Virginia statewide median of $49,900. There are 1.4 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $53,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| 25th percentile | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Median | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| 75th percentile | $61,550 | $29.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,940 | $38.92 |
| Average (mean) | $53,890 | $25.91 |
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 | $4,165 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,082.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,922.31 |
| Weekly | $961.15 |
| Hourly | $24.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | $49,900 | 310 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,050 | 250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $40,350 | 110 |
| Roanoke, VA | $39,040 | 200 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,180 | $21.24 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,840 | $29.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,800 | $21.06 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,700 | $24.37 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,960 | $26.90 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,240 | $21.27 |
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Richmond, VA metro area is $49,980 a year, or $24.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $80,940 a year. The top 25% earn $61,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,540 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $41,700 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Richmond, VA?
About 930 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.