Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Indiana is $48,780/year ($23.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $53,131 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,144/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Indiana?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Indiana
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Indiana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute | $65K | +33% | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $49K | +1% | 850 |
| Fort Wayne | $48K | -1% | 210 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $43K | -11% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 34.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/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 Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,164/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Indiana pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Indiana?
The median is $48,780 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,070, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $60,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,312/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 34.5% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $53,131 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.