Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $60,070 a year ($28.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,070 for the top 10%. That is 38% higher than the national median of $43,380. Pay here is 17% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $51,200. There are 0.18 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $54,550, close to the median.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,580 | $19.03 |
| 25th percentile | $52,970 | $25.47 |
| Median | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| 75th percentile | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Average (mean) | $54,550 | $26.23 |
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 | $5,005.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,502.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,310.38 |
| Weekly | $1,155.19 |
| Hourly | $28.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $45,950 | 70 |
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 or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,150 | $34.21 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Baker | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| Printing Press Operator | $43,450 | $20.89 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Food Batchmaker | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,700 | $23.42 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $58,870 | $28.30 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $60,070 a year, or $28.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $60,070 a year. The top 25% earn $60,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,580 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $52,970 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 70 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.