Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in California is $48,730/year ($23.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $45,911 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 73.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in California?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in California
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 74.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in California
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $59K | +21% | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $58K | +19% | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $54K | +11% | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $49K | +1% | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $49K | +0% | 2,060 |
| Visalia | $49K | +0% | 300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $47K | -3% | 780 |
| Fresno | $47K | -4% | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $45K | -8% | 150 |
| Salinas | $38K | -22% | 250 |
Compare to other states
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 74.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,247/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 110% 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 California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
California pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in California?
The median is $48,730 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,450, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $65,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,332/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 74.2% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $45,911 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.