California Median
$48,730
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.43
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $50,270
State Rank
#26 of 43
5,570 employed here
How much do Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in California?
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in California take home a median of $48,730 annually — roughly $23.43 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $50,270.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $37,450 while the top 10% make $65,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,910 and $59,390 a year.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,450 | $18.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $40,910 | $19.67 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $48,730 | $23.43 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $59,390 | $28.55 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,210 | $31.35 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 26th out of 43 states and territories for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in other states
Oklahoma $63,640Maine $61,780Utah $60,790Washington $59,410Louisiana $58,230Minnesota $58,150Kentucky $58,050Wisconsin $58,050Idaho $57,950Oregon $56,810Illinois $56,400New Mexico $53,930New York $52,800Alabama $52,290Pennsylvania $51,780Michigan $50,540New Hampshire $50,200Georgia $50,160South Carolina $50,040Virginia $49,900Arizona $49,160Colorado $48,940Florida $48,910Massachusetts $48,840Indiana $48,780Rhode Island $48,710Arkansas $48,630Connecticut $48,530Delaware $48,110Nebraska $47,980North Carolina $47,940Texas $47,830Maryland $47,780Nevada $47,780Missouri $47,560Ohio $47,450Mississippi $47,380Tennessee $46,920South Dakota $46,910Iowa $46,110New Jersey $45,950Kansas $45,840
Working as Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in California
Nationally, about 96,000 people work as Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($48,730) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in California?
The median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in California is $48,730 per year, or about $23.43 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,450 at the entry level to $65,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders about 3% less than the national median of $50,270. California ranks 26th out of 43 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $48,730 a year. About 5,570 Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary report
Related salaries
$57,390
median pay · 21,000 employed
$62,750
median pay · 3,000 employed
$35,650
median pay · 3,000 employed
$60,020
median pay · 128,000 employed
$49,030
median pay · 9,000 employed
$37,160
median pay · 236,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.