Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$42,770
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$20.56
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$58,170
entry level starts ~$30,890
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 41,000 employed

How much do Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood make?

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earn a median annual salary of $42,770 in the United States, which works out to roughly $20.56 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $30,890 at the entry level and $58,170 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $36,510 and $48,620 a year.

That is $18,620 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary range by percentile

Half of all Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earn between $36,510 and $48,620 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$30,890$14.85
25th percentile (early career)$36,510$17.55
50th percentile (median)$42,770$20.56
75th percentile (experienced)$48,620$23.38
90th percentile (top earners)$58,170$27.97

Highest-paying states for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay at $52,680 a year, followed by Washington ($51,940) and Minnesota ($51,330). At the other end, New Mexico posts the lowest median at $34,720 — a gap of $17,960 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Alaska$52,680$25.33+23%
2Washington$51,940$24.97+21%
3Minnesota$51,330$24.68+20%
4Connecticut$51,150$24.59+20%
5Oregon$49,740$23.91+16%

Workforce and education

About 41,000 people work as Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood make in the United States?
The median Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in the United States is $42,770 per year, or about $20.56 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $30,890, while the top 10% of earners make $58,170 or more.
How does Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood median of $42,770 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood the most?
Alaska is the highest-paying state for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood, with a median salary of $52,680 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood work in the United States?
About 41,000 people were employed as Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.