Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $38,590 a year ($18.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,760 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 16% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $46,110. There are 1.3 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,550 | $18.54 |
| 25th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Median | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| 75th percentile | $64,450 | $30.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| Average (mean) | $51,650 | $24.83 |
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 | $3,215.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,607.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,484.23 |
| Weekly | $742.12 |
| Hourly | $18.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,590 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $83,470 | 260 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,600 | $24.81 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,250 | $24.64 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $48,520 | $23.33 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,100 | $26.97 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $60,330 | $29.00 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,370 | $36.24 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,400 | $24.23 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $38,590 a year, or $18.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $82,760 a year. The top 25% earn $64,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,550 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $38,580 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 110 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.