Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky is $58,050/year ($27.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $64,336 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Kentucky?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky sits well above the national pay line for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $59K | +2% | 440 |
| Bowling Green | $58K | -1% | 220 |
Compare to other states
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,787/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $58K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Kentucky pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Kentucky?
The median is $58,050 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,450, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $76,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 28.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $64,336 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.