Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in New Mexico is $53,930/year ($25.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $57,952 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 31.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in New Mexico?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $38K 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 New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,045/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
New Mexico pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in New Mexico?
The median is $53,930 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,080, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $72,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,644/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 30.7% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $57,952 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.