Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $48,940/year ($23.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers.
So what does $49K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $49K | $48K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $51K | $51K |
| Oklahoma City | $40K | $44K |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $60K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $28K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 62.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,345/month.
Is paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -3%.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $48,940 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,090, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $66,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,267/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 62.6% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $48,940 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.