USMississippi salary guideStatewide BLS data
Updated for 2026

Paper Good Machine Setter Salary in Mississippi (2026)

The Paper Good Machine Setter salary in Mississippi for 2026 is shown as a modeled statewide benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. Each section helps readers understand where this career pays best across the state and how the projected benchmark compares with metro markets. Official BLS and O*NET title: "Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders".

Official BLS baseline: 2024Modeled statewide salary guide1,210 employment estimate12 min read
Average Salary
$49.9K
state median
Entry Level
$35.2K
starting range
Senior Level
$57.4K
upper band
Top Range
$80.4K
90th percentile
Hourly Rate
$22
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·   Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Paper Good Machine Setter Salary Overview in Mississippi

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Paper Good Machine Setter pay in Mississippi at about $49,943.0 per year. On the latest official statewide BLS baseline, the range runs from about $32,740.0 at the lower end to $80,370.0 for top earners.

This guide covers the full statewide Paper Good Machine Setter salary picture first, then compares metro markets inside Mississippi where BLS data is available — making it useful for candidates who want a broader view beyond any single city.

Mississippi Paper Good Machine Setter Salary vs the U.S. Average

The statewide median for Paper Good Machine Setter roles in Mississippi is $49,943.0, compared with a U.S. median of $49,390.0. That gap of +1% helps readers see whether this state sits in a premium salary market, a near-national market, or a lower-cost salary market relative to the rest of the country.

BenchmarkMississippiUnited StatesDifference
Projected annual salary$49,943.0$49,390.0+1% vs U.S.
Entry-level benchmark$42,790.0$39,310.0+9% vs U.S.
Senior-level benchmark$57,429.0$63,583.0-10% vs U.S.
Top baseline wage range$80,370.0$68,640.0+17% vs U.S.
Projected hourly equivalent$22$241,210 state jobs
How to read the state premium Hattiesburg, MS is currently the strongest-paying metro in this state, which helps explain how local employer concentration pushes the state average. Manufacturing is the strongest-paying industry benchmark currently available.

Paper Good Machine Setter Salary by Experience Level in Mississippi

Statewide experience bands help show how much of the salary story comes from growing responsibility, not location alone. Even inside one state, the distance between entry-level and senior pay can be wide enough to change how attractive the long-term path looks.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$42.8K
$24/hr median equivalent
$35.2K - $49.9K
Lower percentile wages modeled into early-career pay.
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$49.9K
$24/hr median equivalent
$42.8K - $57.4K
Independent delivery and broader scope become the norm.
Senior
6-10 years
$57.4K
$24/hr median equivalent
$49.9K - $86.3K
Higher salaries usually reflect stronger ownership and specialization.
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$86.3K
$24/hr median equivalent
$57.4K - $105K
Leadership pay reflects broader responsibility and top-end wage ranges.
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs U.S.
Entry-Level Paper Good Machine Setter0-2 years$42,790.0$35,164.0 - $49,943.0-13% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Paper Good Machine Setter3-5 years$49,943.0$42,790.0 - $57,429.0+1% vs U.S.
Senior Paper Good Machine Setter6-10 years$57,429.0$49,943.0 - $86,321.0+16% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Paper Good Machine Setter10+ years$86,321.0$57,429.0 - $105,311+75% vs U.S.
State experience modelThese experience bands are modeled from local wage percentiles because BLS publishes wage distributions, not direct entry, mid, senior, or lead labels.
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Paper Good Machine Setter Salary by City in Mississippi

City-level differences inside Mississippi can be large. Stronger salary metro areas often combine dense employers, specialized industries, and stronger competition for experienced Paper Good Machine Setter talent.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs StateMarket Signal
Hattiesburg, MS$39,840.0$32,740.0 - $50,950.0-20% vs U.S.Value market
Jackson, MS$38,080.0$35,480.0 - $46,500.0-24% vs U.S.Value market
Jackson, MS$38,460.0$24,010.0 - $49,150.0-23% vs U.S.Value market
Hattiesburg, MS$37,770.0$31,040.0 - $48,300.0-24% vs U.S.Value market
Jackson, MS$37,170.0$23,240.0 - $49,500.0-26% vs U.S.Value market
Jackson, MS$47,440.0$24,930.0 - $47,440.0-5% vs U.S.Value market
Jackson, MS$42,700.0$33,670.0 - $52,170.0-15% vs U.S.Value market

Paper Good Machine Setter Salary by Industry in Mississippi

Industry mix is one of the strongest drivers behind pay differences inside a state. Stronger salary industry rows usually reflect employers that place the role closer to revenue, specialized operations, or hard-to-source talent.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Manufacturing$49,570.0$37,180.0 - $69,330.0Stronger salary
Wholesale Trade$46,610.0$33,130.0 - $59,070.0Stronger salary
Transportation and Warehousing$40,380.0$38,660.0 - $52,420.0Stronger salary
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$38,980.0$31,640.0 - $64,230.0Competitive
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting$36,760.0$33,280.0 - $52,730.0Competitive
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$32,280.0$29,360.0 - $39,520.0Competitive

Entry-Level Paper Good Machine Setter Salary in Mississippi

Entry-level pay in Mississippi for paper good machine setter usually starts near the lower statewide wage band, then rises as candidates move from supervised work into independent delivery. The first major salary jump often comes from handling broader scope, changing employers, or moving into stronger local metro markets.

Starting benchmark
$42.8K
$35.2K - $49.9K
Typical early-career compensation in this state, modeled from the lower end of the local wage distribution.
Promotion target
$49.9K
+16.7% vs entry median
The move into reliable independent delivery is usually the first real comp inflection point.
Preparation pathJob Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Typical education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Training signal: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
StageTypical SalaryTimelineKey Signal
Intern / trainee$29.9K - $38.7KPre-full-timeFoundational proof
Entry-level$42,790.00-2 yearsStructured support and learning
Promotion-ready junior$46.2K - $52.2K12-24 monthsIndependent delivery
Mid-level target$49,943.018-30 monthsBroader ownership
Entry estimateEntry-level Paper Good Machine Setter pay in Mississippi is modeled around $42,790.0using the lower state wage percentiles.
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Public vs Private-Sector Pay in Mississippi

The state salary dataset here does not label every wage row by public or private ownership, so this section models the comparison from statewide salary levels and the industry spread visible in the data. It is best read as pay guidance, not as a direct government-vs-private wage census.

Employer TypeEstimated SalaryBest MatchHow It Is Modeled
Public / institutional style$46,946.4education, utilities, or government-adjacent workAnchored to lower-variance industry rows and the statewide baseline
Private-market baseline$49,943.0Mississippi commercial employersUses the core statewide median as the middle market
Top private-sector path$49,570.0ManufacturingAnchored to the strongest visible industry pay rows
Interpretation notePrivate-sector upside is usually strongest where Paper Good Machine Setter work is closer to revenue, specialized operations, or employer competition. Institutional paths often trade some upside for steadier pay bands and clearer progression.

Remote vs Onsite Paper Good Machine Setter Pay in Mississippi

Remote and hybrid work can change the salary story for a state page because the employer market may be broader than the worker’s home location. Where direct remote comp data is available, it is shown below; otherwise the fallback rows use the local salary benchmark as the base case.

Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$49,943.0Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$51,441.3Metro dependentMississippi employersMedium
Onsite$50,442.4Location dependentLocal teams and officesLower

The best remote comparison is total pay after commute, housing pressure, and access to stronger employer markets. A lower-cost metro paired with national hiring access can outperform a higher nominal local salary.

Cost of Living for Paper Good Machine Setter Salary in Mississippi

A state salary should be read alongside rent, taxes, commuting, and the mix of high-cost and lower-cost metro areas inside the state. The same Paper Good Machine Setter salary can feel very different across Mississippi.

MarketProjected SalaryMonthlyVs StateModeled Cost Signal
Hattiesburg, MS$39,840.0$3.3K-20% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Jackson, MS$38,080.0$3.2K-24% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Jackson, MS$38,460.0$3.2K-23% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Hattiesburg, MS$37,770.0$3.1K-24% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Jackson, MS$37,170.0$3.1K-26% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Jackson, MS$47,440.0$4.0K-5% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Purchasing-power reminder Hattiesburg, MS sets the top in-state pay benchmark, while Jackson, MS shows how lower salary markets may come with a lighter local cost burden.

Leading Salary Cities in Mississippi

Statewide averages flatten the most important local differences. This ranking brings those differences back into view by showing which cities and metros inside Mississippi create the strongest salary benchmarks for this role.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs State
Hattiesburg, MS$39,840.0$32,740.0 - $50,950.0-20% vs U.S.
Jackson, MS$38,080.0$35,480.0 - $46,500.0-24% vs U.S.
Jackson, MS$38,460.0$24,010.0 - $49,150.0-23% vs U.S.
Hattiesburg, MS$37,770.0$31,040.0 - $48,300.0-24% vs U.S.
Jackson, MS$37,170.0$23,240.0 - $49,500.0-26% vs U.S.
Jackson, MS$47,440.0$24,930.0 - $47,440.0-5% vs U.S.
Jackson, MS$42,700.0$33,670.0 - $52,170.0-15% vs U.S.

Paper Good Machine Setter Demand Outlook in Mississippi

Career growth inside Mississippi is best read through two lenses: the local salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The salary ladder shows how compensation expands with responsibility, while the outlook data shows whether employers are likely to keep competing for talent.

1
Intern / Trainee
$28.6K - $38.5K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
2
Junior
$35.6K - $46.9K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
3
Mid Level
$44.5K - $55.3K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
4
Senior
$53.3K - $69.1K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
5
Lead
$63.2K - $80.0K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
6
Principal / Architect
$74.1K - $101K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by -6.3% from 2024 to 2034.
DecliningAnnual openings: 8.1 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment97.5k → 91.4k
Typical educationUsually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Related experienceSome occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
State market anchor1,210 jobs with a median of $49,943.0

Factors That Affect Paper Good Machine Setter Salary in Mississippi

State salary is shaped by more than the job title. Metro concentration, local industry strength, training expectations, and the size of the in-state employer market all influence where pay ultimately settles.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.
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How to Increase Your Paper Good Machine Setter Salary in Mississippi

Salary growth tends to come fastest when candidates combine stronger proof of impact, better-paying market selection, and negotiation with current state and U.S. benchmarks in hand.

MoveWhy It HelpsTimelineAvg. Salary Impact
Benchmark against stronger marketsCompare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.1-3 months+15-30%
Build a visible specializationPrioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.3-9 months$6.0K - $14.0K
Target higher-paying industriesUse industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.2-6 months$4.0K - $9.0K
Fastest practical liftThe quickest salary gains often come from combining stronger proof, a better-paying metro or industry target, and a well-benchmarked negotiation conversation.

Paper Good Machine Setter Salary in Mississippi: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the statewide benchmark with city differences, experience bands, and demand signals. They are here to clear up the parts of the salary picture that still feel uncertain after the main sections.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Paper Good Machine Setter" compare statewide salary levels, metro differences, and career progression across the state.

What is the average Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary?
The latest national baseline for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders is about $49,400 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary?
Entry-level estimates for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $36,600 per year nationally.
How much can senior Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders professionals earn?
Senior Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $59,200 per year nationally.
Does location affect Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Career: medium · City: official · Compare: medium · Country: official
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