Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in California
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in California earn a median of $47,390 a year ($22.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,160 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $42,770. California ranks 9th of 46 states for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood pay. There are 0.18 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $47,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| 25th percentile | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Median | $47,390 | $22.78 |
| 75th percentile | $55,020 | $26.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,160 | $28.44 |
| Average (mean) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
Half of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,949.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,974.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,822.69 |
| Weekly | $911.35 |
| Hourly | $22.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $54,340 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,720 | 60 |
| Redding, CA | $50,630 | 160 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,250 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $49,250 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,210 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,460 | 420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,380 | 600 |
| Chico, CA | $46,210 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $45,620 | 160 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,800 | 430 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,850 | 80 |
| Modesto, CA | $40,600 | 90 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,910 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $52,680 |
| Washington | $51,940 |
| Minnesota | $51,330 |
| Connecticut | $51,150 |
| Oregon | $49,740 |
| Montana | $49,090 |
| Idaho | $48,350 |
| Iowa | $48,090 |
| California | $47,390 |
| Massachusetts | $47,210 |
See Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,030 | $23.57 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Furniture Finisher | $49,080 | $23.60 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $47,860 | $23.01 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-7041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood make in California?
The median salary for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in California is $47,390 a year, or $22.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood make in California?
The top 10% of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in California earn at least $59,160 a year. The top 25% earn $55,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,330 a year, and a quarter of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood earn $39,660 or less.
How many sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood work in California?
About 3,230 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.