Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood Salary
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earn a median $42,770 a year nationally. Production Occupations
What sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood do
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Workers who primarily program or operate CNC equipment are classified in "Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Programmers" (51-9160).
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.0% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 4,500
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood is projected to shrink 1.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 4,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,952
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,652
- Medicare (1.45%)$620
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$36,546
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,890 | $14.85 | $27,000 |
| 25th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 | $31,516 |
| Median (50th) | $42,770 | $20.56 | $36,546 |
| 75th percentile | $48,620 | $23.38 | $41,246 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,170 | $27.97 | $48,920 |
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $52,680 | +18.7% | $44,508 | $37,550 – $57,870 | 100 |
| Washington | $51,940 | +6.4% | $43,914 | $39,730 – $63,180 | 1,720 |
| Minnesota | $51,330 | +4.9% | $41,457 | $38,830 – $61,200 | 500 |
| Connecticut | $51,150 | +19.3% | $41,902 | $38,380 – $66,300 | 110 |
| Oregon | $49,740 | +0.2% | $38,623 | $37,370 – $59,250 | 2,010 |
| Montana | $49,090 | +0.3% | $40,073 | $42,320 – $57,960 | 280 |
| Idaho | $48,350 | −0.6% | $39,575 | $39,520 – $59,720 | 700 |
| Iowa | $48,090 | +0.7% | $39,645 | $37,230 – $53,500 | 240 |
| California | $47,390 | +4.1% | $38,749 | $37,330 – $59,160 | 3,230 |
| Massachusetts | $47,210 | −0.5% | $37,973 | $43,630 – $75,430 | 60 |
| Maryland | $47,060 | — | $38,121 | $37,740 – $131,980 | 130 |
| Colorado | $47,030 | +1.0% | $38,608 | $39,110 – $57,980 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $46,970 | +7.2% | $38,663 | $40,040 – $56,190 | 140 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 | +8.0% | $38,619 | $29,810 – $56,870 | 500 |
| Illinois | $46,530 | −2.5% | $37,408 | $33,270 – $70,550 | 470 |
| Maine | $46,210 | +7.7% | $37,372 | $37,230 – $56,590 | 730 |
| New Hampshire | $46,090 | +7.8% | $39,213 | $32,220 – $56,910 | 130 |
| Vermont | $46,040 | +2.5% | $38,065 | $36,820 – $58,870 | 230 |
| Ohio | $45,010 | +0.7% | $37,890 | $35,940 – $57,070 | 2,180 |
| New Jersey | $44,630 | +6.6% | $37,122 | $34,750 – $58,090 | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $44,440 | +2.9% | $36,713 | $33,220 – $55,930 | 1,880 |
| Utah | $43,490 | +13.9% | $36,133 | $36,020 – $55,560 | 180 |
| Arizona | $42,870 | +0.1% | $35,763 | $36,590 – $55,110 | 310 |
| Indiana | $42,620 | +8.0% | $35,197 | $34,270 – $58,840 | 1,270 |
| New York | $42,250 | −0.3% | $34,443 | $35,860 – $57,470 | 1,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,590 | −1.0% | $33,548 | $31,210 – $57,520 | 1,720 |
| Michigan | $40,260 | +0.8% | $33,069 | $34,920 – $50,550 | 1,510 |
| Georgia | $39,860 | +3.9% | $32,762 | $27,760 – $50,430 | 1,930 |
| Wyoming | $39,470 | −7.5% | $33,894 | $30,780 – $47,890 | 70 |
| Nevada | $39,350 | +19.4% | $33,798 | $30,560 – $54,760 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $39,300 | −2.3% | $32,557 | $29,070 – $51,750 | 810 |
| Tennessee | $39,070 | +5.7% | $33,573 | $30,680 – $49,400 | 1,510 |
| Florida | $38,280 | +1.3% | $32,938 | $33,330 – $48,710 | 740 |
| North Carolina | $38,100 | +5.7% | $31,782 | $29,120 – $53,880 | 2,020 |
| Missouri | $38,030 | −1.5% | $31,887 | $30,630 – $48,670 | 1,380 |
| Alabama | $37,520 | −0.1% | $30,716 | $29,950 – $51,620 | 1,880 |
| South Dakota | $37,480 | −1.6% | $32,295 | $30,460 – $58,450 | 260 |
| Mississippi | $36,960 | +3.6% | $31,131 | $28,320 – $51,450 | 1,910 |
| Kansas | $36,930 | −1.1% | $30,592 | $28,760 – $50,400 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $36,810 | +3.0% | $30,586 | $28,880 – $46,700 | 1,050 |
| Arkansas | $36,740 | +1.7% | $30,480 | $28,180 – $64,850 | 1,240 |
| Texas | $36,740 | +0.6% | $31,701 | $28,550 – $50,300 | 1,680 |
| Oklahoma | $36,140 | +5.3% | $30,138 | $29,570 – $47,840 | 250 |
| Virginia | $35,790 | +0.2% | $29,693 | $30,480 – $47,780 | 1,580 |
| West Virginia | $35,590 | +24.2% | $29,825 | $27,450 – $58,280 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $34,720 | — | $29,552 | $29,120 – $64,840 | 70 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $43,380 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.5% |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $44,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.3% |
| Furniture Finisher | $44,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.5% |
| Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter | $46,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.9% |
| Patternmakers, Wood | $49,630 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.0% |
| Model Makers, Wood | $56,550 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.3% |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $42,660 | No formal educational credential | -19.2% |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender | $43,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.1% |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,290 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.5% |
| Print Binding and Finishing Worker | $42,290 | High school diploma or equivalent | -17.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood make?
The national median salary for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood is $42,770 a year ($20.56 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,890 and the top 10% earn over $58,170. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $52,680.
How many sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood are there in the U.S.?
About 40,850 people work as sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood nationwide.