Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Salinas, CA
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $38,140 a year ($18.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,310 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 22% lower than the California statewide median of $48,730. There are 1.4 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| 25th percentile | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Median | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| 75th percentile | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,310 | $30.44 |
| Average (mean) | $46,720 | $22.46 |
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 | $3,178.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,589.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,466.92 |
| Weekly | $733.46 |
| Hourly | $18.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,140 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $59,150 | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,780 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $53,870 | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,100 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,930 | 2,060 |
| Visalia, CA | $48,730 | 300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,420 | 780 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,800 | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,760 | 150 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,500 | $21.40 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,320 | $25.16 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,250 | $20.31 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,920 | $33.62 |
| Baker | $41,310 | $19.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,650 | $22.43 |
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Salinas, CA metro area is $38,140 a year, or $18.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $63,310 a year. The top 25% earn $60,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,910 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $38,140 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Salinas, CA?
About 250 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.