Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 96,130 jobs, median pay $50,270

96,130

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$50,270

Median pay a year

Middle half: $44,920–$60,180

9,000

Annual openings

10-year change: −3.6%

High school diploma or equivalent

Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 131 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $59,020 · LCA filings 04,320$59,0200

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $46,410 · LCA filings 02,940$46,4100

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $48,930 · LCA filings 02,060$48,9300

Green Bay, WIMedian pay $59,230 · LCA filings 01,740$59,2300

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $48,150 · LCA filings 01,690$48,1500

Oshkosh–Neenah, WIMedian pay $58,560 · LCA filings 01,670$58,5600

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $48,640 · LCA filings 01,590$48,6400

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $55,810 · LCA filings 01,430$55,8100

Cincinnati, OH–KY–INMedian pay $48,900 · LCA filings 01,410$48,9000

Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $57,840 · LCA filings 01,280$57,8400

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Cedar Rapids, IAEmployment 260 · LCA filings 0$83,4702600

Pittsfield, MAEmployment 190 · LCA filings 0$65,1901900

Terre Haute, INEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$65,110400

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 460 · LCA filings 0$64,0204600

Albany, OREmployment 80 · LCA filings 0$63,800800

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $48,838 · Level III $54,475 · Level IV $60,133$43,181$48,838$54,475$60,133

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $42,723 · Level III $49,067 · Level IV $55,411$36,379$42,723$49,067$55,411

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $45,677 · Level III $51,438 · Level IV $57,179$39,936$45,677$51,438$57,179

Green Bay, WILevel II $52,021 · Level III $58,510 · Level IV $65,021$45,510$52,021$58,510$65,021

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $41,184 · Level III $46,800 · Level IV $52,416$35,568$41,184$46,800$52,416

Oshkosh–Neenah, WILevel II $51,480 · Level III $56,992 · Level IV $62,504$45,968$51,480$56,992$62,504

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $44,491 · Level III $49,171 · Level IV $53,872$39,790$44,491$49,171$53,872

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $46,571 · Level III $52,354 · Level IV $58,115$40,810$46,571$52,354$58,115

Cincinnati, OH–KY–INLevel II $47,091 · Level III $51,792 · Level IV $56,472$42,411$47,091$51,792$56,472

Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $47,715 · Level III $54,246 · Level IV $60,757$41,205$47,715$54,246$60,757

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

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Related occupations · Production

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Bakers Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Production Workers, All Other

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology