Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
The median pay for a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tuscaloosa, AL is $36,020/year ($17.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $41,062 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,169/month — about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $63K | +27% | 930 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | +25% | 1,440 |
| Utah | $59K | +20% | 920 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +17% | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57K | +15% | 890 |
| Illinois | $57K | +15% | 5,720 |
| Idaho | $56K | +14% | 500 |
| Washington | $56K | +14% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $56K | +13% | 1,950 |
| Kentucky | $54K | +9% | 2,310 |
| New York | $52K | +5% | 3,390 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +5% | 3,650 |
| Connecticut | $52K | +4% | 690 |
| Maine | $51K | +4% | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | +3% | 7,720 |
| California | $50K | +1% | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $49K | -0% | 3,930 |
| Virginia | $49K | -1% | 2,310 |
| Iowa | $49K | -1% | 1,180 |
| Ohio | $49K | -1% | 3,900 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | -1% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | -2% | 2,150 |
| Michigan | $49K | -2% | 3,540 |
| Georgia | $48K | -2% | 6,390 |
| Nevada | $48K | -2% | 450 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -3% | 3,130 |
| Arizona | $48K | -4% | 980 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -4% | 5,010 |
| Indiana | $48K | -4% | 3,120 |
| Delaware | $47K | -4% | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | -4% | 420 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -5% | 260 |
| Florida | $47K | -5% | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -6% | 1,210 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -6% | 120 |
| Missouri | $46K | -6% | 1,650 |
| New Jersey | $46K | -6% | 2,570 |
| Kansas | $46K | -7% | 550 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -8% | 1,850 |
| Texas | $45K | -10% | 4,150 |
| South Dakota | $44K | -10% | 80 |
| Maryland | $35K | -30% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tuscaloosa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $36,020 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,020, and experienced paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $61,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,445/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 47.8% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (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 $41,062 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.