Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood work with specialized equipment to process wood products. Nationally, about 45,000 people are employed in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $39,950. The field shows a small projected employment change of -0.6%, but there are still an estimated 5,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs. This role can fit individuals who are comfortable working with machinery, staying focused on detailed tasks, and using both physical stamina and problem-solving skills on the job. The work draws on fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to remain adaptable in a production environment. Career paths may intersect with similar machine-based occupations such as textile machine operators, molders and shapers, or other woodworking machine operators. For those interested in hands-on, production-focused work with a high school education, this occupation can offer a stable, skills-based pathway with opportunities across multiple states and metro areas.
The national median annual salary for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood is $39,950. Earnings vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $51,940, while California, Massachusetts, and Colorado all have median salaries just above $47,000. New York’s median salary is $42,250, somewhat lower than these other leading states. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports a median salary of $50,720, and the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports $48,700. Several other major metros, including San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, offer median salaries in the mid-$40,000s. This range shows that local markets can influence earnings, with some states and metros offering noticeably higher pay than the national median. Job seekers can use these differences to target regions that align with their salary expectations.
Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood have national employment of about 45,000 workers. The occupation’s projected employment growth is -0.6%, indicating a slight overall decline in total positions over the projection period. Even with this modest decrease, the occupation is expected to have about 5,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of workers leaving the occupation and job changes within the field. The combination of stable current employment and ongoing annual openings suggests that opportunities will continue to exist, even as total employment edges down. States and metro areas highlighted with opportunity scores, such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, all share the same -0.6% growth rate, indicating a consistent projected pattern across these regions. Individuals considering this career can expect a competitive environment where available positions may be driven more by turnover and replacement needs than by expansion.
Location plays a significant role in the opportunity profile for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood. Among states, California stands out with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $47,390, and employment of 3,230. Massachusetts and New York offer similar opportunity scores around the mid-60s, with median salaries of $47,210 and $42,250 respectively, though Massachusetts has much smaller reported employment (60) than New York (1,010). Colorado and Washington round out the top states, with Washington combining a higher median salary of $51,940 and employment of 1,720. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, along with median salaries near or above $48,700. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, each with mid-$40,000 median salaries and solid opportunity scores. These differences show that certain states and metros offer relatively stronger combinations of pay and opportunity.
For sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood, the typical educational requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who do not plan to complete a four-year college degree but still want a skilled role in a production setting. Success in this field relies on a combination of physical and cognitive abilities. Important skills include fine motor control, mechanical aptitude, and physical strength and stamina. Being detail oriented and comfortable using mathematics supports accuracy and consistency. The role also draws on leadership, creativity and innovation, and critical and analytical thinking, particularly in problem solving and decision making. Adaptability is another key skill, helping workers respond to changing tasks or conditions. Together, this blend of education and skills creates a path for individuals who are ready to build hands-on experience and develop a strong practical skill set in a structured work environment.
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