Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Washington
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Washington earned a median of $59,410 a year ($28.56 an hour) and a mean of $58,970 in May 2025. The median is 18.2% above the U.S. median of $50,270, ranking 4th of 44 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $59,410
- Median hourly
- $28.56
- Mean annual
- $58,970
- Jobs on record
- 2,170
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 Washington compare on pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Washington ranks 4th of 44 states and territories. Oklahoma is highest at $63,640, $4,230 more than the Washington median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 2 | $61,780 | +23% | 740 |
| Utah | 3 | $60,790 | +21% | 1,350 |
| Washington | 4 | $59,410 | +18% | 2,170 |
| Louisiana | 5 | $58,230 | +16% | 1,150 |
| Minnesota | 6 | $58,150 | +16% | 1,960 |
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 Washington pay go further after prices?
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the U.S. average, so the $59,410 median buys about what $55,517 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $50,270 U.S. median. On this measure Washington ranks 13th of 43, down from 4th 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 Washington pay paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is highest at $64,020, 7.8% above the Washington median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64,020 | 460 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $59,770 | 590 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $57,540 | 70 |
| Yakima, WA | $54,060 | 180 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Washington 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 Washington?
BLS counts 2,170 jobs in Washington, 2.3% of the 96,130 in the U.S. That is the 18th largest count among the 44 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in Washington, a location quotient of 0.99: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.99 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Washington 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 Washington was $21.46 in May 2025, $4.33 above the $17.13 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 Washington
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.