Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is $38,590. BLS estimates approximately 110 people work in this occupation in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is 23.2% below the national median ($50,270).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,550 | $18.54 |
| 25th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Median (50th) | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| 75th percentile | $64,450 | $30.99 |
| 90th percentile | $82,760 | $39.79 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 13% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 9.3% — Reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.268
- Location quotient
- 2.05
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA’s regional price level is below the national average (index 87.057, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $44,327 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.