51
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is a notable career in the 51 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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13
| soc | 51-9196 |
| title | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| onet code | 51-9196.00 |
| description | Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 51 |
| tot emp | 96,950 |
| a mean | 51,750 |
| a median | 49,390 |
| a pct10 | 36,610 |
| a pct25 | 43,520 |
| a pct75 | 59,220 |
| a pct90 | 68,640 |
| h mean | 24 |
| h median | 23 |
The day-to-day work of a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically centers on examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems. 4 of these 8 tasks are Core O*NET duties; the remainder are common supplemental work. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, and Quality Control Analysis. Across the top 8 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.12 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (69.3%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Louisiana at $62,690 and lowest in Maryland at $34,760 — a 1.8× spread. The top five states (Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, Oregon) average $59,662. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $62,690 | $64,780 | $45,970 | $84,310 | 930 |
| Oklahoma | $61,750 | $56,300 | $38,550 | $76,980 | 1,440 |
| Utah | $59,100 | $54,420 | $38,270 | $71,540 | 920 |
| Wisconsin | $57,760 | $55,430 | $41,500 | $70,260 | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57,010 | $59,400 | $46,540 | $81,070 | 890 |
| Illinois | $56,860 | $52,950 | $39,870 | $60,210 | 5,720 |
| Idaho | $56,300 | $60,060 | $49,360 | $81,920 | 500 |
| Washington | $56,240 | $57,390 | $40,430 | $78,360 | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $55,790 | $55,050 | $38,020 | $76,560 | 1,950 |
| Kentucky | $53,650 | $57,290 | $47,170 | $75,190 | 2,310 |
| New York | $51,860 | $52,280 | $36,900 | $66,410 | 3,390 |
| South Carolina | $51,720 | $55,870 | $37,500 | $79,130 | 3,650 |
| Connecticut | $51,530 | $56,360 | $38,080 | $77,750 | 690 |
| Maine | $51,450 | $54,530 | $48,380 | $62,010 | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,780 | $52,210 | $36,510 | $68,770 | 7,720 |
| Colorado | $50,340 | $52,800 | $43,680 | $64,810 | 200 |
| California | $50,030 | $51,760 | $38,660 | $61,370 | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $49,380 | $50,180 | $35,480 | $70,260 | 3,930 |
| Virginia | $49,110 | $52,210 | $37,810 | $79,140 | 2,310 |
| Iowa | $48,950 | $53,580 | $35,150 | $80,920 | 1,180 |
| Ohio | $48,730 | $51,230 | $39,240 | $62,600 | 3,900 |
| New Hampshire | $48,660 | $51,650 | $37,490 | $62,700 | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $48,530 | $50,960 | $39,950 | $61,950 | 2,150 |
| Michigan | $48,510 | $50,630 | $37,730 | $64,590 | 3,540 |
| Georgia | $48,330 | $51,620 | $34,410 | $76,860 | 6,390 |
| Nevada | $48,300 | $54,730 | $38,850 | $71,350 | 450 |
| Tennessee | $48,060 | $48,720 | $36,050 | $63,650 | 3,130 |
| Arizona | $47,620 | $47,270 | $39,430 | $56,650 | 980 |
| North Carolina | $47,600 | $46,510 | $33,720 | $61,780 | 5,010 |
| Indiana | $47,590 | $48,550 | $38,070 | $59,180 | 3,120 |
| Delaware | $47,350 | $47,630 | $34,370 | $61,610 | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $47,210 | $44,140 | $34,770 | $51,360 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $46,900 | $46,490 | $40,800 | $48,760 | 260 |
| Florida | $46,800 | $49,650 | $39,420 | $63,690 | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $46,500 | $50,300 | $32,740 | $80,370 | 1,210 |
| New Mexico | $46,350 | $48,540 | $36,130 | $74,370 | 120 |
| Missouri | $46,240 | $47,810 | $34,770 | $64,230 | 1,650 |
| New Jersey | $46,200 | $46,490 | $36,300 | $60,270 | 2,570 |
| Kansas | $46,120 | $45,580 | $35,160 | $57,400 | 550 |
| Arkansas | $45,520 | $49,090 | $34,820 | $67,240 | 1,850 |
| Texas | $44,570 | $46,980 | $34,800 | $64,200 | 4,150 |
| South Dakota | $44,330 | $43,930 | $37,130 | $48,870 | 80 |
| Maryland | $34,760 | $39,900 | $32,830 | $57,830 | 280 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Bag Machine Operator or Bag Machine Tender frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders compares to others in the 51 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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