How much does a woodworking machine setter make?
The median woodworking machine setter in the United States earns $43,380 per year, about $20.86 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all woodworking machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-7042.
Woodworking machine setter salary range
Pay for woodworking machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $32,110 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $56,830. The average (mean) wage of $43,570 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 | $32,110 | $15.44 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,100 | $17.84 | |
| Median (50th) | $43,380 | $20.86 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,720 | $23.42 | |
| 90th percentile | $56,830 | $27.32 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing (SOC 51-7042), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Woodworking machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Woodworking machine setters earn the most in Washington at $52,980 a year, and the least in Texas at $33,840. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $52,980 | 1,250 |
| Minnesota | $51,540 | 710 |
| Iowa | $51,200 | 1,100 |
| New Jersey | $49,680 | 410 |
| Oregon | $49,480 | 2,120 |
| Nebraska | $49,190 | 490 |
| Michigan | $47,680 | 5,250 |
| Louisiana | $47,170 | 400 |
| Connecticut | $47,140 | 150 |
| Colorado | $46,500 | 440 |
| Vermont | $46,480 | 200 |
| Maryland | $46,470 | 420 |
| New Hampshire | $46,450 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $46,430 | 890 |
| California | $46,370 | 3,530 |
| Rhode Island | $45,880 | 100 |
| North Dakota | $45,820 | 280 |
| Idaho | $45,730 | 830 |
| Montana | $45,610 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,980 | 3,310 |
| Wisconsin | $44,450 | 2,610 |
| Maine | $44,370 | 440 |
| Ohio | $43,930 | 2,710 |
| New York | $43,720 | 1,250 |
| Kansas | $43,580 | 470 |
| Mississippi | $42,090 | 860 |
| South Carolina | $41,990 | 1,660 |
| South Dakota | $41,740 | 490 |
| Indiana | $41,600 | 3,570 |
| Illinois | $41,360 | 1,820 |
| Nevada | $41,090 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $40,020 | 280 |
| Wyoming | $39,930 | 40 |
| Arizona | $39,440 | 1,430 |
| Virginia | $39,370 | 1,520 |
| Utah | $39,260 | 1,050 |
| Florida | $38,740 | 1,840 |
| New Mexico | $38,650 | 150 |
| Missouri | $38,640 | 940 |
| Kentucky | $38,080 | 1,320 |
| North Carolina | $37,550 | 4,090 |
| Georgia | $37,380 | 2,280 |
| Arkansas | $36,850 | 760 |
| Alabama | $36,750 | 2,580 |
| Oklahoma | $35,990 | 260 |
| Tennessee | $35,290 | 1,840 |
| Texas | $33,840 | 2,130 |
State median wages for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing (SOC 51-7042), 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 woodworking machine setters
The BLS projects employment of woodworking machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 2.5%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 60,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 59,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,300 openings a year for woodworking 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 woodworking machine setter
The typical entry-level education for woodworking 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 woodworking 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 (Washington, $52,980) and the lowest (Texas, $33,840) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 61,420 people work as woodworking machine setters in the United States. At $43,380 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Woodworking machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a woodworking machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a woodworking machine setter is $20.86. The middle half of woodworking machine setters earn between $17.84 and $23.42 per hour.
What is the highest woodworking machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of woodworking machine setters earn more than $56,830 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a woodworking machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a woodworking machine setter is $43,380. The average (mean) wage of $43,570 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 woodworking machine setter a well paid job?
At $43,380 a year, a woodworking machine setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 61,420 people work as woodworking machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays woodworking machine setters the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for woodworking machine setters at $52,980 a year. Minnesota ($51,540) and Iowa ($51,200) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a woodworking machine setter a good career?
Employment of woodworking machine setters is projected to shrink 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a woodworking machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for woodworking machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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