Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in California
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in California earn a median of $46,370 a year ($22.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,520 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $43,380. California ranks 15th of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay. There are 0.19 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $46,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| 25th percentile | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| Median | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| 75th percentile | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,520 | $27.65 |
| Average (mean) | $46,570 | $22.39 |
Half of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing 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 | $3,864.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,932.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,783.46 |
| Weekly | $891.73 |
| Hourly | $22.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,970 | 220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,390 | 100 |
| Chico, CA | $46,940 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,940 | 280 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,730 | 180 |
| Redding, CA | $46,690 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,200 | 580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,660 | 850 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,630 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,740 | 70 |
| Yuba City, CA | $39,670 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,100 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,990 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $52,980 |
| Minnesota | $51,540 |
| Iowa | $51,200 |
| New Jersey | $49,680 |
| Oregon | $49,480 |
| Nebraska | $49,190 |
| Michigan | $47,680 |
| Louisiana | $47,170 |
| Connecticut | $47,140 |
| Colorado | $46,500 |
See Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,030 | $23.57 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $47,390 | $22.78 |
| 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 51-7042. 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 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in California?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in California is $46,370 a year, or $22.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in California?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in California earn at least $57,520 a year. The top 25% earn $49,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,700 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $39,540 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in California?
About 3,530 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.