Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Virginia
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Virginia earned a median of $49,900 a year ($23.99 an hour) and a mean of $52,620 in May 2025. The median is 0.7% below the U.S. median of $50,270, ranking 20th of 44 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $49,900
- Median hourly
- $23.99
- Mean annual
- $52,620
- Jobs on record
- 2,370
Grey needle: U.S. median, $50,270 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Virginia compare on pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Virginia ranks 20th of 44 states and territories. Oklahoma is highest at $63,640, $13,740 more than the Virginia median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 18 | $50,160 | -0% | 5,650 |
| South Carolina | 19 | $50,040 | -0% | 2,460 |
| Virginia | 20 | $49,900 | -1% | 2,370 |
| Arizona | 21 | $49,160 | -2% | 1,190 |
| Colorado | 22 | $48,940 | -3% | 240 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 44 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Virginia pay go further after prices?
Prices in Virginia run 1.1% above the U.S. average, so the $49,900 median buys about what $49,355 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $50,270 U.S. median. On this measure Virginia ranks 29th of 43, down from 20th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Virginia pay paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Richmond, VA is highest at $49,980, about the same as the Virginia median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $49,980 | 930 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $49,900 | 310 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,050 | 250 |
| Roanoke, VA | $39,040 | 200 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Virginia is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Virginia?
BLS counts 2,370 jobs in Virginia, 2.5% of the 96,130 in the U.S. That is the 17th largest count among the 44 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in Virginia, a location quotient of 0.93: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.93 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Virginia minimum wage compare with pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Virginia was $17.77 in May 2025, $5.00 above the $12.77 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Virginia
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.