Salary guide, May 2025
Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender) pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in the United States was $40,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,030 and $49,010.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other
Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender) is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31,200 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 | $61,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $17.32 | $19.29 | $23.56 | $29.58 |
BLS estimated 251,700 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,100 | $32,300 to $47,630 | 2,860 | 0.63 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,790 | $30,470 to $42,850 | 2,220 | 0.95 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,370 | $31,130 to $38,680 | 1,330 | 0.58 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,510 | $32,670 to $55,860 | 2,400 | 1.99 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,610 | $37,130 to $48,340 | 4,740 | 0.31 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,610 | $37,130 to $48,340 | 4,740 | 0.31 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $39,540 | $35,030 to $46,560 | 6,150 | 0.94 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $41,250 | $37,600 to $49,750 | 4,810 | 0.66 |
Rank every metro for Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender)
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Tobacco Manufacturing$77,630
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$68,720
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$59,620
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$58,900
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$58,900
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$58,420
- Grain and Oilseed Milling$58,050
- Dairy Product Manufacturing$55,190
- Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing$54,890
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$54,060
- Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing$51,970
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing$51,710
- Beverage Manufacturing$51,710
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing$50,980
- Ship and Boat Building$50,570
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 121,680 | $37,240 | $45,600 | $54,890 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 15,310 | $36,200 | $41,680 | $50,710 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 14,200 | $36,940 | $45,600 | $51,560 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 10,490 | $37,960 | $44,550 | $50,150 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 10,490 | $37,370 | $45,440 | $51,930 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 10,020 | $37,790 | $46,470 | $58,610 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 8,790 | $36,030 | $40,240 | $46,950 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 8,420 | $37,220 | $43,720 | $48,740 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 7,940 | $34,770 | $42,190 | $51,100 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 7,690 | $38,340 | $46,580 | $56,710 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 7,130 | $39,820 | $47,450 | $56,130 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 7,130 | $39,820 | $47,450 | $56,130 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 6,580 | $38,100 | $47,300 | $56,820 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 6,060 | $38,510 | $50,430 | $62,040 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 6,010 | $43,160 | $49,800 | $54,890 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 5,820 | $42,320 | $48,900 | $59,510 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 5,630 | $34,680 | $39,360 | $48,850 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 5,500 | $35,030 | $40,910 | $49,540 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 4,140 | $36,980 | $46,690 | $56,040 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 3,830 | $41,350 | $46,470 | $53,510 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3,810 | $39,440 | $47,700 | $54,250 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,810 | $45,340 | $54,890 | $54,890 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 3,590 | $36,040 | $36,460 | $43,610 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3,200 | $36,680 | $45,580 | $55,840 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3,190 | $39,940 | $47,040 | $56,020 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,050 | $35,540 | $39,350 | $48,700 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 2,950 | $31,110 | $38,270 | $49,030 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,790 | $40,700 | $47,850 | $57,160 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 2,520 | $34,650 | $45,780 | $62,000 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 2,490 | $37,530 | $42,540 | $46,230 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 2,490 | $37,530 | $42,540 | $46,230 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 2,490 | $35,540 | $38,660 | $47,480 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,440 | $34,370 | $44,060 | $59,120 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 2,410 | $37,720 | $41,360 | $46,550 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 2,080 | $33,960 | $37,940 | $46,270 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 2,070 | $40,050 | $46,300 | $62,340 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 2,010 | $39,640 | $46,040 | $53,510 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 1,960 | $35,940 | $42,230 | $50,670 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,940 | $47,250 | $58,050 | $61,780 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1,930 | $46,970 | $59,620 | $79,120 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,920 | $57,660 | $68,720 | $84,420 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,840 | $43,550 | $50,980 | $65,200 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 1,800 | $34,820 | $39,410 | $49,470 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,710 | $44,600 | $58,900 | $66,420 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,710 | $44,600 | $58,900 | $66,420 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 1,700 | $37,870 | $44,590 | $54,900 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,690 | $38,170 | $45,740 | $50,450 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 1,500 | $48,450 | $55,190 | $63,540 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 1,490 | $36,200 | $47,900 | $56,810 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,420 | $35,270 | $39,420 | $50,660 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 1,400 | $38,550 | $48,520 | $56,690 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 1,310 | $42,890 | $47,480 | $60,980 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,230 | $42,590 | $51,710 | $65,420 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,210 | $44,630 | $49,990 | $59,510 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 1,170 | $35,260 | $39,350 | $48,970 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 1,130 | $41,190 | $51,710 | $63,430 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 1,080 | $35,350 | $38,690 | $44,880 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 990 | $28,620 | $28,620 | $29,890 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 980 | $32,260 | $38,060 | $41,790 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 980 | $37,170 | $44,770 | $52,360 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 940 | $44,620 | $50,570 | $62,390 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 890 | $44,480 | $50,270 | $63,070 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 800 | $39,610 | $46,700 | $57,420 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 710 | $39,600 | $44,730 | $52,460 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 710 | $43,160 | $46,170 | $47,020 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 680 | $37,440 | $45,600 | $50,930 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 570 | $39,900 | $58,420 | $74,340 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 570 | $40,150 | $51,970 | $57,640 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 520 | $34,700 | $38,320 | $44,720 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 490 | $43,720 | $46,740 | $55,310 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 440 | $34,830 | $36,080 | $46,360 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 340 | $37,160 | $38,880 | $48,120 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 330 | $33,000 | $36,760 | $38,270 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 250 | $33,330 | $40,850 | $45,280 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 250 | $35,270 | $42,770 | $52,800 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 220 | $35,330 | $38,800 | $44,420 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 220 | $24,660 | $46,470 | $46,470 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 200 | $40,190 | $48,470 | $60,670 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 180 | $33,330 | $37,160 | $40,790 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 120 | $34,810 | $36,760 | $40,320 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 110 | $58,960 | $77,630 | $80,350 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 100 | $36,120 | $39,570 | $49,360 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 90 | $36,410 | $41,410 | $42,510 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 90 | $39,380 | $39,730 | $45,260 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $39,080 | $46,630 | $64,990 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 50 | $37,450 | $43,850 | $45,720 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 40 | $31,390 | $31,390 | $35,670 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $25,960 | $31,580 | $39,420 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | Not published by BLS | $35,000 | $43,560 | $50,430 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | Not published by BLS | $36,050 | $45,090 | $50,430 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $37,380 | $37,720 | $44,020 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $33,590 | $37,720 | $37,720 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $42,570 | $54,060 | $68,760 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender), write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $35,080 | $38,820 | $47,550 |
| May 2025 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about an interview based on the work?
Build the interview around paper-machine operation and coordinated response to wet-end or dry-end problems. Those limits help establish machine-tender responsibility rather than only work on one auxiliary station; they are part of competence, not a weakness to talk around.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender)?
The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in the United States was $40,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,030 and $49,010. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $31,200. 90% earned less than $61,530.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender) at a plant?
Paper Machine Operator (Machine Tender) is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 251,700 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
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What does this data mean for your opening?
The Paper Machine Operator role aligns with SOC 51-9199, which encompasses all Production Workers, All Other. The national median salary as of May 2025 is $40,110, showing an increase of $1,290 from the May 2024 median of $38,820. The middle band width for this occupation is $12,980, with a P25 of $36,030 and a P75 of $49,010.
Manufacturing Headhunters acknowledges the limitation that this SOC grouping aggregates many distinct production tasks. Consequently, these metrics do not isolate the specialized responsibility of a machine tender who manages paper runnability from auxiliary operations.
National industry statistics provide a look at how different sectors pay for similar production labor. Tobacco Manufacturing reports a median of $77,630, Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills reports $68,720, and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reports $59,620. These medians reveal that wage capacity is highly dependent on the host industry. BLS methodology excludes common pay components like bonuses, profit sharing, and benefits. Therefore, these medians serve as a reference for base earnings within a very broad, non-specific job classification that aggregates various machine operators.
Regional data from the two highest employment metros illustrates the scale of this production category. The location quotient for Los Angeles is 1.1 and for Atlanta is 2.29. These values show a high concentration of the aggregated production workers in these regions. It is essential to note that these figures include many production roles that do not require machine-tender judgment, as the source data does not differentiate duties.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the broader SOC classification affect salary interpretation?
Because the role is lumped into the catch-all category for all production workers, the salary data is diluted. It does not reflect the unique, higher-level skills required for machine-tender runnability control.
Are the metro-specific medians of $39,520 and $40,970 meaningful?
These figures represent the median pay for the entire SOC 51-9199 occupation in those regions. While they provide a local benchmark, they are not specific to the paper industry.
Does the national increase of $1,290 indicate rising demand for machine tenders?
No, it represents the overall median change for the entire aggregate group. It is a broad macroeconomic trend rather than a signal of specific demand for this role.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4