Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.
Also called: Bag Machine Operator, Bag Machine Tender, Bag Maker, Bag Presser, Bag Valver, Bender Machine Operator
Median pay
$50,270
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$37,300 – $70,320
People employed
96,130
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 6.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay by state
Annual median pay by state (43 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in every state →
What paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders do
- 01Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
- 02Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
- 03Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
- 04Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.
- 05Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
- 06Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: up to and including 1 month.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers93% · −8%
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic89% · −8%
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers88% · −18%
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic86% · 0%
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic84% · +5%
Change into paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers93% · $46,350
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers93% · $41,220
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders92% · $39,530
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders90% · $38,760
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders90% · $38,670