Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Battle Creek, MI is $57,810/year ($27.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.54), which stretches that salary to about $63,850 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,176/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $58K get you in Battle Creek?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Battle Creek’s Regional Price Parity (90.54). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Battle Creek
Battle Creek sits well above the national pay line for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,176/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Battle Creek, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $51K | $51K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $49K | $51K |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $51K | $54K |
| Niles | $50K | $54K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Battle Creek, MI
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $64K | +27% | 1,390 |
| Maine | $62K | +23% | 740 |
| Utah | $61K | +21% | 1,350 |
| Washington | $59K | +18% | 2,170 |
| Louisiana | $58K | +16% | 1,150 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +16% | 1,960 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +15% | 8,510 |
| Kentucky | $58K | +15% | 2,670 |
| Idaho | $58K | +15% | 480 |
| Oregon | $57K | +13% | 680 |
| Illinois | $56K | +12% | 5,360 |
| New Mexico | $54K | +7% | 100 |
| New York | $53K | +5% | 3,280 |
| Alabama | $52K | +4% | 3,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | +3% | 7,410 |
| Michigan | $51K | +1% | 3,000 |
| New Hampshire | $50K | -0% | 230 |
| Georgia | $50K | -0% | 5,650 |
| South Carolina | $50K | -0% | 2,460 |
| Virginia | $50K | -1% | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $49K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Colorado | $49K | -3% | 240 |
| Florida | $49K | -3% | 1,360 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | -3% | 1,920 |
| Indiana | $49K | -3% | 2,580 |
| California | $49K | -3% | 5,570 |
| Rhode Island | $49K | -3% | 240 |
| Arkansas | $49K | -3% | 2,060 |
| Connecticut | $49K | -3% | 650 |
| Delaware | $48K | -4% | 160 |
| Nebraska | $48K | -5% | 300 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -5% | 4,800 |
| Texas | $48K | -5% | 3,740 |
| Maryland | $48K | -5% | 480 |
| Nevada | $48K | -5% | 380 |
| Missouri | $48K | -5% | 1,540 |
| Ohio | $47K | -6% | 4,640 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -6% | 960 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -7% | 3,490 |
| South Dakota | $47K | -7% | 130 |
| Iowa | $46K | -8% | 1,010 |
| New Jersey | $46K | -9% | 3,210 |
| Kansas | $46K | -9% | 420 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Battle Creek?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,176/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Battle Creek?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,773/month. At HUD’s $1,176/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Battle Creek?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $58K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Battle Creek compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Battle Creek pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Battle Creek, MI?
The median is $57,810 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,220, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $62,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Battle Creek?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,836/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,176/month, which eats 30.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Battle Creek?
Battle Creek has a Regional Price Parity of 90.54 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $63,850 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.