Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in Montana
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Montana earn a median of $49,090 a year ($23.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,960 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $42,770. Montana ranks 6th of 46 states for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood pay. There are 0.54 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,320 | $20.35 |
| 25th percentile | $43,130 | $20.73 |
| Median | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| 75th percentile | $55,820 | $26.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,960 | $27.87 |
| Average (mean) | $50,450 | $24.26 |
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 | $4,090.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,045.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,888.08 |
| Weekly | $944.04 |
| Hourly | $23.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,090 salary, see how much house you can afford in Montana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $68,760 | $33.06 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,610 | $26.73 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Baker | $37,200 | $17.89 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Machinist | $60,920 | $29.29 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $98,310 | $47.26 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,920 | $23.04 |
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 Montana?
The median salary for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Montana is $49,090 a year, or $23.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood make in Montana?
The top 10% of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Montana earn at least $57,960 a year. The top 25% earn $55,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,320 a year, and a quarter of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood earn $43,130 or less.
How many sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood work in Montana?
About 280 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.