How much does a sawing machine setter make?
The median sawing machine setter in the United States earns $42,770 per year, about $20.56 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all sawing machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-7041.
Sawing machine setter salary range
Pay for sawing machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,890 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $58,170. The average (mean) wage of $43,580 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,890 | $14.85 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 | |
| Median (50th) | $42,770 | $20.56 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,620 | $23.37 | |
| 90th percentile | $58,170 | $27.97 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood (SOC 51-7041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Sawing machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Sawing machine setters earn the most in Alaska at $52,680 a year, and the least in New Mexico at $34,720. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $52,680 | 100 |
| Washington | $51,940 | 1,720 |
| Minnesota | $51,330 | 500 |
| Connecticut | $51,150 | 110 |
| Oregon | $49,740 | 2,010 |
| Montana | $49,090 | 280 |
| Idaho | $48,350 | 700 |
| Iowa | $48,090 | 240 |
| California | $47,390 | 3,230 |
| Massachusetts | $47,210 | 60 |
| Maryland | $47,060 | 130 |
| Colorado | $47,030 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $46,970 | 140 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 | 500 |
| Illinois | $46,530 | 470 |
| Maine | $46,210 | 730 |
| New Hampshire | $46,090 | 130 |
| Vermont | $46,040 | 230 |
| Ohio | $45,010 | 2,180 |
| New Jersey | $44,630 | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $44,440 | 1,880 |
| Utah | $43,490 | 180 |
| Arizona | $42,870 | 310 |
| Indiana | $42,620 | 1,270 |
| New York | $42,250 | 1,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,590 | 1,720 |
| Michigan | $40,260 | 1,510 |
| Georgia | $39,860 | 1,930 |
| Wyoming | $39,470 | 70 |
| Nevada | $39,350 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $39,300 | 810 |
| Tennessee | $39,070 | 1,510 |
| Florida | $38,280 | 740 |
| North Carolina | $38,100 | 2,020 |
| Missouri | $38,030 | 1,380 |
| Alabama | $37,520 | 1,880 |
| South Dakota | $37,480 | 260 |
| Mississippi | $36,960 | 1,910 |
| Kansas | $36,930 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $36,810 | 1,050 |
| Arkansas | $36,740 | 1,240 |
| Texas | $36,740 | 1,680 |
| Oklahoma | $36,140 | 250 |
| Virginia | $35,790 | 1,580 |
| West Virginia | $35,590 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $34,720 | 70 |
State median wages for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood (SOC 51-7041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for sawing machine setters
The BLS projects employment of sawing machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 41,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 40,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 4,500 openings a year for sawing machine setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a sawing machine setter
The typical entry-level education for sawing machine setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a sawing machine setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $52,680) and the lowest (New Mexico, $34,720) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 40,850 people work as sawing machine setters in the United States. At $42,770 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Sawing machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a sawing machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a sawing machine setter is $20.56. The middle half of sawing machine setters earn between $17.55 and $23.37 per hour.
What is the highest sawing machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of sawing machine setters earn more than $58,170 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a sawing machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a sawing machine setter is $42,770. The average (mean) wage of $43,580 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a sawing machine setter a well paid job?
At $42,770 a year, a sawing machine setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 40,850 people work as sawing machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays sawing machine setters the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for sawing machine setters at $52,680 a year. Washington ($51,940) and Minnesota ($51,330) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a sawing machine setter a good career?
Employment of sawing machine setters is projected to shrink 1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 4,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a sawing machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for sawing machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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