51 Series · SOC 51-7041

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$42,770
Median / year
$58,170
Top 10% earn
-0.6%
Growth '23–'33
40,850
US workers

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earn a median of $42,770 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $42,770, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $30,890 (10th percentile) to $58,170 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 40,850 US workers. Alaska pays the most ($52,680), since pay varies by state and metro area.

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earn a median of $42,770, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 16% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #77 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.6% by 2033.

$42,770
Median annual wage
Top 84%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#77 of 105
in Production
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Alaska at $52,680. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (SOC 51-7041) pays a national median of $42,770 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $30,890 at the 10th percentile to $58,170 at the 90th, with a mean of $43,580 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 40,850 Americans work in this occupation across 46 reporting states and 231 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 4,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $52,680, which is +23% above the national figure. The top metro is Longview-Kelso, WA at $60,100 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 40,850 jobs Median $42,770/yr

Median Salary

$42,770

per year

Median Hourly

$20.56/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$43,580

average

Employment

40,850

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$42,770 Bottom 16% higher than 16% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits on the slower-growing side at -0.6% growth and $42,770 median pay.

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits on the slower-growing side at -0.6% growth and $42,770 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits on the slower-growing side at -0.6% growth and $42,770 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-0.6%

Declining

Annual Openings

4,800

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
B

Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.1
Operation and Control 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Troubleshooting 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Active Listening 2.8
Equipment Maintenance 2.8
Judgment and Decision Making 2.8
Time Management 2.8

Knowledge Areas

Production and Processing 3.2
Mechanical 3.2
Public Safety and Security 2.6
Mathematics 2.6
Education and Training 2.3
English Language 2.2
Design 2.1
Engineering and Technology 2.1
Building and Construction 1.9
Psychology 1.8

Key Tasks

  • Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
  • Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
  • Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
  • Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.
  • Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.
  • Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
  • Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
  • Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws.
  • Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
  • Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$30,890$36,510$42,770$48,620$58,170
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$14.85$17.55$20.56$23.37$27.97
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$30,890

25th Percentile

$36,510

Median

$42,770

75th Percentile

$48,620

90th Percentile

$58,170

Salary by State

View all 46 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Alaska $52,680 +23% above national
2 Washington $51,940 +21% above national
3 Minnesota $51,330 +20% above national
4 Connecticut $51,150 +20% above national
5 Oregon $49,740 +16% above national
6 Montana $49,090 +15% above national
7 Idaho $48,350 +13% above national
8 Iowa $48,090 +12% above national
9 California $47,390 +11% above national
10 Massachusetts $47,210 +10% above national
11 Maryland $47,060 +10% above national
12 Colorado $47,030 +10% above national
13 Nebraska $46,970 +10% above national
14 Louisiana $46,610 +9% above national
15 Illinois $46,530 +9% above national
16 Maine $46,210 +8% above national
17 New Hampshire $46,090 +8% above national
18 Vermont $46,040 +8% above national
19 Ohio $45,010 +5% above national
20 New Jersey $44,630 +4% above national
21 Wisconsin $44,440 +4% above national
22 Utah $43,490 +2% above national
23 Arizona $42,870 same as national
24 Indiana $42,620 same as national
25 New York $42,250 1% below national
26 Pennsylvania $40,590 5% below national
27 Michigan $40,260 6% below national
28 Georgia $39,860 7% below national
29 Wyoming $39,470 8% below national
30 Nevada $39,350 8% below national
31 South Carolina $39,300 8% below national
32 Tennessee $39,070 9% below national
33 Florida $38,280 10% below national
34 North Carolina $38,100 11% below national
35 Missouri $38,030 11% below national
36 Alabama $37,520 12% below national
37 South Dakota $37,480 12% below national
38 Mississippi $36,960 14% below national
39 Kansas $36,930 14% below national
40 Kentucky $36,810 14% below national
41 Arkansas $36,740 14% below national
42 Texas $36,740 14% below national
43 Oklahoma $36,140 16% below national
44 Virginia $35,790 16% below national
45 West Virginia $35,590 17% below national
46 New Mexico $34,720 19% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 231 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Longview-Kelso, WA $60,100 +41% above national
2 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $59,700 +40% above national
3 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $57,200 +34% above national
4 Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $55,840 +31% above national
5 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $55,280 +29% above national
6 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $54,340 +27% above national
7 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $54,090 +26% above national
8 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $53,460 +25% above national
9 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $51,790 +21% above national
10 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $51,540 +21% above national
11 East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $50,900 +19% above national
12 Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $50,750 +19% above national
13 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $50,720 +19% above national
14 Redding, CA $50,630 +18% above national
15 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $50,630 +18% above national
16 West Montana nonmetropolitan area $50,540 +18% above national
17 Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $50,500 +18% above national
18 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $50,250 +17% above national
19 St. Cloud, MN $49,820 +16% above national
20 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,740 +16% above national
21 Baton Rouge, LA $49,700 +16% above national
22 Cleveland, OH $49,610 +16% above national
23 North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $49,440 +16% above national
24 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,310 +15% above national
25 Vallejo, CA $49,250 +15% above national
26 Medford, OR $49,230 +15% above national
27 Portland-South Portland, ME $48,710 +14% above national
28 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $48,700 +14% above national
29 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $48,680 +14% above national
30 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $48,400 +13% above national
31 Eugene-Springfield, OR $48,400 +13% above national
32 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $48,360 +13% above national
33 Coeur d'Alene, ID $48,350 +13% above national
34 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $48,300 +13% above national
35 Stockton-Lodi, CA $48,210 +13% above national
36 Omaha, NE-IA $47,610 +11% above national
37 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $47,460 +11% above national
38 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $47,110 +10% above national
39 Salem, OR $47,050 +10% above national
40 Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $47,020 +10% above national
41 Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $46,970 +10% above national
42 Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $46,950 +10% above national
43 Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $46,710 +9% above national
44 Eau Claire, WI $46,670 +9% above national
45 Reading, PA $46,650 +9% above national
46 Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $46,650 +9% above national
47 Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $46,610 +9% above national
48 Canton-Massillon, OH $46,410 +9% above national
49 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $46,380 +8% above national
50 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $46,370 +8% above national
51 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $46,310 +8% above national
52 Reno, NV $46,310 +8% above national
53 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $46,290 +8% above national
54 Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $46,230 +8% above national
55 Chico, CA $46,210 +8% above national
56 Huntsville, AL $46,100 +8% above national
57 Jackson, TN $45,850 +7% above national
58 Albany, OR $45,700 +7% above national
59 Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $45,640 +7% above national
60 Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area $45,640 +7% above national
61 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,620 +7% above national
62 Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $45,560 +7% above national
63 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $45,490 +6% above national
64 Green Bay, WI $45,480 +6% above national
65 West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $45,450 +6% above national
66 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $45,410 +6% above national
67 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $45,360 +6% above national
68 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $45,310 +6% above national
69 East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $45,240 +6% above national
70 Wausau, WI $45,200 +6% above national
71 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $45,160 +6% above national
72 Florence, SC $45,000 +5% above national
73 Chattanooga, TN-GA $44,780 +5% above national
74 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $44,760 +5% above national
75 Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $44,650 +4% above national
76 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $44,620 +4% above national
77 Greeley, CO $44,610 +4% above national
78 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $44,520 +4% above national
79 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $44,410 +4% above national
80 Decatur, AL $44,360 +4% above national
81 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $44,200 +3% above national
82 Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $44,180 +3% above national
83 Lancaster, PA $44,060 +3% above national
84 Boise City, ID $43,910 +3% above national
85 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $43,800 +2% above national
86 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $43,800 +2% above national
87 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $43,680 +2% above national
88 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $43,620 +2% above national
89 Dubuque, IA $43,600 +2% above national
90 Pittsburgh, PA $43,490 +2% above national
91 Columbus, OH $43,480 +2% above national
92 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $43,450 +2% above national
93 Bellingham, WA $43,290 +1% above national
94 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $42,910 same as national
95 Fresno, CA $42,850 same as national
96 Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $42,740 same as national
97 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $42,600 same as national
98 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $42,240 1% below national
99 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $42,230 1% below national
100 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $42,220 1% below national
101 Akron, OH $42,190 1% below national
102 Sheboygan, WI $42,040 2% below national
103 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $41,950 2% below national
104 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $41,850 2% below national
105 High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area $41,740 2% below national
106 South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $41,670 3% below national
107 Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $41,600 3% below national
108 Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $41,600 3% below national
109 Rochester, NY $41,590 3% below national
110 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $41,550 3% below national
111 Jacksonville, FL $41,440 3% below national
112 Bangor, ME $41,340 3% below national
113 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $40,880 4% below national
114 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $40,870 4% below national
115 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $40,800 5% below national
116 Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area $40,690 5% below national
117 Columbia, SC $40,620 5% below national
118 Modesto, CA $40,600 5% below national
119 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $40,560 5% below national
120 Idaho Falls, ID $40,490 5% below national
121 Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $40,440 5% below national
122 Utica-Rome, NY $40,260 6% below national
123 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $40,260 6% below national
124 Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $40,130 6% below national
125 Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $40,120 6% below national
126 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $40,010 6% below national
127 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $40,000 6% below national
128 Knoxville, TN $40,000 6% below national
129 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $39,950 7% below national
130 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $39,730 7% below national
131 Syracuse, NY $39,690 7% below national
132 Williamsport, PA $39,630 7% below national
133 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $39,610 7% below national
134 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $39,590 7% below national
135 Toledo, OH $39,580 7% below national
136 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $39,570 7% below national
137 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $39,510 8% below national
138 Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $39,410 8% below national
139 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $39,370 8% below national
140 Arizona nonmetropolitan area $39,290 8% below national
141 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $39,260 8% below national
142 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $39,240 8% below national
143 Kansas City, MO-KS $39,200 8% below national
144 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $39,110 9% below national
145 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $39,110 9% below national
146 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $39,040 9% below national
147 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $38,890 9% below national
148 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $38,800 9% below national
149 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $38,740 9% below national
150 York-Hanover, PA $38,650 10% below national
151 Fort Wayne, IN $38,600 10% below national
152 North Missouri nonmetropolitan area $38,540 10% below national
153 St. Louis, MO-IL $38,520 10% below national
154 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $38,460 10% below national
155 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $38,340 10% below national
156 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $38,340 10% below national
157 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $38,280 10% below national
158 Winston-Salem, NC $38,260 11% below national
159 Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $38,150 11% below national
160 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $38,090 11% below national
161 Birmingham, AL $38,080 11% below national
162 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $38,040 11% below national
163 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $38,040 11% below national
164 Jefferson City, MO $37,980 11% below national
165 Appleton, WI $37,920 11% below national
166 Yuba City, CA $37,910 11% below national
167 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $37,860 11% below national
168 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $37,850 12% below national
169 North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $37,740 12% below national
170 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $37,720 12% below national
171 Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $37,690 12% below national
172 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $37,620 12% below national
173 Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $37,610 12% below national
174 Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $37,580 12% below national
175 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $37,570 12% below national
176 Jackson, MS $37,470 12% below national
177 Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $37,460 12% below national
178 Clarksville, TN-KY $37,440 12% below national
179 Tuscaloosa, AL $37,440 12% below national
180 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $37,420 13% below national
181 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $37,390 13% below national
182 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $37,370 13% below national
183 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $37,330 13% below national
184 Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $37,240 13% below national
185 Binghamton, NY $37,190 13% below national
186 Columbus, GA-AL $37,140 13% below national
187 Burlington, NC $37,090 13% below national
188 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $37,070 13% below national
189 Auburn-Opelika, AL $37,060 13% below national
190 North Florida nonmetropolitan area $37,020 13% below national
191 Morristown, TN $36,910 14% below national
192 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $36,890 14% below national
193 South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $36,880 14% below national
194 Tulsa, OK $36,810 14% below national
195 Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $36,790 14% below national
196 Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $36,760 14% below national
197 Lynchburg, VA $36,710 14% below national
198 Greensboro-High Point, NC $36,600 14% below national
199 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $36,470 15% below national
200 West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $36,430 15% below national
201 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $36,420 15% below national
202 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $36,410 15% below national
203 Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $36,400 15% below national
204 South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,380 15% below national
205 Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $36,340 15% below national
206 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $36,320 15% below national
207 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $36,280 15% below national
208 Spartanburg, SC $36,250 15% below national
209 North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $36,240 15% below national
210 Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $36,090 16% below national
211 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $35,970 16% below national
212 Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $35,910 16% below national
213 Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area $35,830 16% below national
214 Richmond, VA $35,790 16% below national
215 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $35,740 16% below national
216 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $35,740 16% below national
217 Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,670 17% below national
218 Goldsboro, NC $35,660 17% below national
219 Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,650 17% below national
220 Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $35,360 17% below national
221 West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $35,340 17% below national
222 Roanoke, VA $35,310 17% below national
223 South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $35,060 18% below national
224 Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $34,730 19% below national
225 Oklahoma City, OK $34,670 19% below national
226 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $34,620 19% below national
227 Fort Smith, AR-OK $34,340 20% below national
228 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $31,510 26% below national
229 Rapid City, SD $30,460 29% below national
230 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $29,150 32% below national
231 Longview, TX $29,120 32% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood make?
The median annual salary for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is $42,770 ($20.56/hour). The salary range spans from $30,890 at the 10th percentile to $58,170 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood the most?
Alaska pays the highest median salary for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood at $52,680/year, which is +23% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood?
The typical entry-level education for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood?
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood a good career?
Employment for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is projected to decline 0.6% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 4,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay vary by state?
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Alaska at $52,680/year, while Texas pays the least at $36,740/year. BLS data covers 46 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood?
The highest-paying metro area for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is Longview-Kelso, WA at $60,100/year. BLS reports wage data for 231 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $48,620/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $52,680/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.