Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
The median woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders salary in the United States is $43,380 per year ($20.86/hour). Salaries range from $32,110 at the entry level to $56,830+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 61,420 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 1.8% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$43,380
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.86
per hour
Employment
61,420
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$32,110
25th percentile
$37,100
Median
$43,380
75th percentile
$48,720
90th percentile
$56,830
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-1.8%
Decline
Annual Openings
6,400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$34K$53K■ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$53K
+22%
Minnesota
$52K
+19%
Iowa
$51K
+18%
New Jersey
$50K
+15%
Oregon
$49K
+14%
Nebraska
$49K
+13%
Michigan
$48K
+10%
Louisiana
$47K
+9%
Connecticut
$47K
+9%
Colorado
$47K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $52,980 | +22.1% |
| Minnesota | $51,540 | +18.8% |
| Iowa | $51,200 | +18.0% |
| New Jersey | $49,680 | +14.5% |
| Oregon | $49,480 | +14.1% |
| Nebraska | $49,190 | +13.4% |
| Michigan | $47,680 | +9.9% |
| Louisiana | $47,170 | +8.7% |
| Connecticut | $47,140 | +8.7% |
| Colorado | $46,500 | +7.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 47
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,070 | +38.5% |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $59,550 | +37.3% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $56,950 | +31.3% |
| Albany, OR | $56,180 | +29.5% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $56,180 | +29.5% |
| Bend, OR | $55,400 | +27.7% |
| Medford, OR | $52,390 | +20.8% |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $51,730 | +19.2% |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,030 | +17.6% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,970 | +17.5% |
Showing 1–10 of 160
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders earning $43,380/year would need 1374 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1475 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary trend (2011–2024) →