Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Pennsylvania is $51,780/year ($24.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $54,522 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Pennsylvania?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $52K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 38.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Pennsylvania
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $56K | +8% | 1,430 |
| Lancaster | $53K | +2% | 220 |
| Reading | $52K | +1% | 250 |
| York-Hanover | $52K | -1% | 550 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $51K | -2% | 360 |
| Gettysburg | $50K | -4% | 240 |
| Pittsburgh | $47K | -9% | 500 |
| Altoona | $45K | -13% | 170 |
| Lebanon | $40K | -23% | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $38K | -26% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 38.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,275/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $52K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Pennsylvania pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $51,780 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,910, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $70,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,505/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 38.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $54,522 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.