Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Louisiana is $58,230/year ($28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $66,716 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Louisiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $58K get you in Louisiana?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Louisiana sits well above the national pay line for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,669/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $58K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Louisiana pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Louisiana?
The median is $58,230 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,480, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $79,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,911/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 30.5% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $66,716 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.