Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $47,980/year ($23.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $54,221 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month — about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $26K 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $47,980 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,760, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $59,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,203/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 34.2% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (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 $54,221 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.