Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Fort Wayne, IN
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Fort Wayne, IN is $47,590/year ($22.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $51,410 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month — about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in Fort Wayne?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Wayne’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Wayne, IN
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $18K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $63K | +27% | 930 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | +25% | 1,440 |
| Utah | $59K | +20% | 920 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +17% | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57K | +15% | 890 |
| Illinois | $57K | +15% | 5,720 |
| Idaho | $56K | +14% | 500 |
| Washington | $56K | +14% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $56K | +13% | 1,950 |
| Kentucky | $54K | +9% | 2,310 |
| New York | $52K | +5% | 3,390 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +5% | 3,650 |
| Connecticut | $52K | +4% | 690 |
| Maine | $51K | +4% | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | +3% | 7,720 |
| California | $50K | +1% | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $49K | -0% | 3,930 |
| Virginia | $49K | -1% | 2,310 |
| Iowa | $49K | -1% | 1,180 |
| Ohio | $49K | -1% | 3,900 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | -1% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | -2% | 2,150 |
| Michigan | $49K | -2% | 3,540 |
| Georgia | $48K | -2% | 6,390 |
| Nevada | $48K | -2% | 450 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -3% | 3,130 |
| Arizona | $48K | -4% | 980 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -4% | 5,010 |
| Indiana | $48K | -4% | 3,120 |
| Delaware | $47K | -4% | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | -4% | 420 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -5% | 260 |
| Florida | $47K | -5% | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -6% | 1,210 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -6% | 120 |
| Missouri | $46K | -6% | 1,650 |
| New Jersey | $46K | -6% | 2,570 |
| Kansas | $46K | -7% | 550 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -8% | 1,850 |
| Texas | $45K | -10% | 4,150 |
| South Dakota | $44K | -10% | 80 |
| Maryland | $35K | -30% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 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 Fort Wayne numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median is $47,590 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,130, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $55,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Fort Wayne?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,236/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 34.4% 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 Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $51,410 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.