Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tennessee is $46,920/year ($22.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $52,261 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Tennessee?
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 36.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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, Tennessee
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $51K | +9% | 470 |
| Chattanooga | $50K | +7% | 320 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $48K | +2% | 530 |
| Knoxville | $47K | +0% | 480 |
| Clarksville | $46K | -2% | 160 |
| Jackson | $46K | -2% | 420 |
| Morristown | $36K | -23% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,893/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Tennessee pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Tennessee?
The median is $46,920 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,550, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $60,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,312/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 36.7% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $52,261 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.