Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $48,570 a year ($23.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 680 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,570 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 2% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $47,560. There are 0.51 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $49,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,900 | $20.15 |
| 25th percentile | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Median | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| 75th percentile | $54,440 | $26.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,570 | $27.68 |
| Average (mean) | $49,140 | $23.63 |
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 | $4,047.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,023.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,868.08 |
| Weekly | $934.04 |
| Hourly | $23.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,570 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,020 | 4,320 |
| Rockford, IL | $56,800 | 90 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,220 | 720 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,180 | 130 |
| Springfield, MO | $45,440 | 70 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,190 | $19.32 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $53,500 | $25.72 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,360 | $24.21 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,310 | $25.15 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $56,320 | $27.08 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $94,230 | $45.30 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $48,570 a year, or $23.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $57,570 a year. The top 25% earn $54,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,900 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $45,120 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 680 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.