Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Maine is $61,780/year ($29.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $63,234 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maine. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $62K get you in Maine?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Maine
Maine sits well above the national pay line for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $36K 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 Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 31.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,839/month. At HUD’s $1,281/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 Maine?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $62K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Maine pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Maine?
The median is $61,780 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,310, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $83,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,061/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 31.5% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $63,234 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.