Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Tennessee
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee earn a median of $46,920 a year ($22.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,170 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $50,270. Tennessee ranks 39th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 1.1 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| 25th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Median | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| 75th percentile | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Average (mean) | $47,120 | $22.65 |
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 | $3,910 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,955 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,804.62 |
| Weekly | $902.31 |
| Hourly | $22.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $51,140 | 470 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $50,330 | 320 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $47,650 | 530 |
| Knoxville, TN | $46,920 | 480 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,150 | 160 |
| Jackson, TN | $45,900 | 420 |
| Morristown, TN | $36,330 | 60 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,970 | $20.18 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Tire Builder | $74,100 | $35.63 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $45,860 | $22.05 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tennessee is $46,920 a year, or $22.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tennessee earn at least $60,170 a year. The top 25% earn $56,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,550 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $37,070 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Tennessee?
About 3,490 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.