Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
What Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do
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.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 1.2%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Production and Processingimportance 3.7/5
- Mechanicalimportance 3.6/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.5/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.2/5
- English Languageimportance 3.2/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 2.7/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.7/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 2.4/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.9/5
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.8/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
- Spend Time Standing4.7/5
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.7/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.5/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic95% skill match
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders95% skill match
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood95% skill match
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining94% skill match
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers94% skill match
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders93% skill match
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons93% skill match
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders93% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.6/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.3/5
- Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.1/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.9/5
- Coordinationimportance 2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 2.9/5
- Equipment Maintenanceimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Objectif Lune PrintShop Mail
- Quark enterprise publishing software
- Virtual Systems Mail-Shop
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Achievement Orientation
- Stress Tolerance
- Perseverance
- Self-Control
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- EnterprisingLow
- ArtisticLow
- SocialLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Oshkosh-Neenah, WI28.89× national avg
- 2Longview-Kelso, WA23.41× national avg
- 3Green Bay, WI16.16× national avg
- 4Macon-Bibb County, GA12.37× national avg
- 5Gettysburg, PA11.91× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersLateral Move
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandLateral Move
- Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move
See the full career path from Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders →