Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Illinois
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Illinois earn a median of $41,360 a year ($19.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,160 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $43,380. Illinois ranks 30th of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay. There are 0.30 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $43,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,970 | $17.77 |
| 25th percentile | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Median | $41,360 | $19.89 |
| 75th percentile | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| Average (mean) | $43,300 | $20.82 |
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 | $3,446.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,723.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,590.77 |
| Weekly | $795.38 |
| Hourly | $19.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | $46,090 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $42,860 | 920 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,370 | 200 |
| Kankakee, IL | $37,850 | 110 |
| Rockford, IL | $37,700 | 60 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Furniture Finisher | $47,600 | $22.89 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| Baker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,500 | $21.88 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Illinois is $41,360 a year, or $19.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in Illinois?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Illinois earn at least $53,160 a year. The top 25% earn $46,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,970 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $38,290 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in Illinois?
About 1,820 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.