Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Washington
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Washington earn a median of $59,410 a year ($28.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,410 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $50,270. Washington ranks 4th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.61 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,970, close to the median.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| 25th percentile | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Median | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| 75th percentile | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,410 | $35.77 |
| Average (mean) | $58,970 | $28.35 |
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 | $4,950.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,475.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,285 |
| Weekly | $1,142.50 |
| Hourly | $28.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64,020 | 460 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $59,770 | 590 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $57,540 | 70 |
| Yakima, WA | $54,060 | 180 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $51,360 | 660 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $107,920 | $51.88 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,800 | $25.86 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $67,300 | $32.36 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $47,060 | $22.63 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $51,780 | $24.90 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $58,710 | $28.22 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,430 | $24.25 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $56,400 | $27.12 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Washington is $59,410 a year, or $28.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Washington?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Washington earn at least $74,410 a year. The top 25% earn $64,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,640 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $49,960 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Washington?
About 2,170 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.