Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in Tennessee
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Tennessee earn a median of $39,070 a year ($18.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,400 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $42,770. Tennessee ranks 32nd of 46 states for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood pay. There are 0.46 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,680 | $14.75 |
| 25th percentile | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Median | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| 75th percentile | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Average (mean) | $40,480 | $19.46 |
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 | $3,255.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,627.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,502.69 |
| Weekly | $751.35 |
| Hourly | $18.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | $45,850 | 80 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $45,360 | 320 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $44,780 | 50 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $40,560 | 200 |
| Knoxville, TN | $40,000 | 130 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $37,440 | 30 |
| Morristown, TN | $36,910 | 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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $34,790 | $16.73 |
| Furniture Finisher | $32,160 | $15.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Tennessee is $39,070 a year, or $18.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Tennessee earn at least $49,400 a year. The top 25% earn $46,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,680 a year, and a quarter of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood earn $36,040 or less.
How many sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood work in Tennessee?
About 1,510 sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.