Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in Columbia, SC
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $40,620 a year ($19.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,440 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $42,770. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $39,300. There are 0.17 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $41,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,000 | $13.46 |
| 25th percentile | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Median | $40,620 | $19.53 |
| 75th percentile | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Average (mean) | $41,160 | $19.79 |
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 | $3,385 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,692.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,562.31 |
| Weekly | $781.15 |
| Hourly | $19.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | $45,000 | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $42,910 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $39,110 | 250 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,890 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $38,040 | 80 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,250 | 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 or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,160 | $23.64 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,230 | $20.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,010 | $24.53 |
| Baker | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,830 | $14.34 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in the Columbia, SC metro area is $40,620 a year, or $19.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $50,440 a year. The top 25% earn $49,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,000 a year, and a quarter of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood earn $35,360 or less.
How many sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood work in Columbia, SC?
About 70 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.