Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in South Dakota
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in South Dakota earn a median of $46,910 a year ($22.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,310 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $50,270. South Dakota ranks 40th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 0.28 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $45,160, close to the median.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| 25th percentile | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| Median | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| 75th percentile | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,310 | $27.55 |
| Average (mean) | $45,160 | $21.71 |
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 | $3,909.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,954.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,804.23 |
| Weekly | $902.12 |
| Hourly | $22.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,860 | $21.09 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,980 | $21.63 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,780 | $24.41 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $48,830 | $23.48 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $66,650 | $32.04 |
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in South Dakota is $46,910 a year, or $22.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in South Dakota earn at least $57,310 a year. The top 25% earn $47,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,270 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $38,310 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in South Dakota?
About 130 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.