Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,320 or more. The middle half of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Boston earn between $46,940 and $65,220.
- $42K10th
- $47K25th
- $59KMedian
- $65K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,940 | $4,828 | $27.86 |
| Median | $58,820 | $4,902 | $28.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,940 | $3,912 | $22.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,220 | $5,435 | $31.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Boston earn 11% more than the Massachusetts average ($52,120) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($52,840). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $50,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $57,940 | $58,820 | $42,030 | $78,320 | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $52,120 | $48,840 | $38,600 | $65,220 | 1,920 |
| United States | $52,840 | $50,270 | $37,300 | $70,320 | 96,130 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $57,940, a single filer in Boston takes home about $46,158 a year, or $3,846 a month and $1,775 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $48,735 | $4,061 |
| Working in MA | $46,158 | $3,846 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $57,940 buys what about $53,516 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 4 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Pittsfield pays the most ($62,350).
- Pittsfield$62,350
- Boston$57,940
- Worcester$49,140
- Springfield$47,060
All Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries in Massachusetts
Highest-paying cities for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
Cedar Rapids, IA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,830).
- Cedar Rapids, IA$70,830
- Albany, OR$66,820
- Longview, WA$66,350
- Pittsfield, MA$62,350
- Wausau, WI$62,350
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Boston: questions
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make an hour in Boston?
$27.86 an hour on average, and $28.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders take-home pay in Boston?
About $46,158 a year ($3,846 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,940. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($52,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-9196; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.