Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Iowa
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Iowa earn a median of $51,200 a year ($24.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,480 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $43,380. Iowa ranks 3rd of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.71 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| 25th percentile | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Median | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| 75th percentile | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,480 | $27.64 |
| Average (mean) | $51,530 | $24.77 |
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 | $4,266.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,133.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,969.23 |
| Weekly | $984.62 |
| Hourly | $24.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,200 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 cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,070 | 70 |
| 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.
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| Furniture Finisher | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,910 | $23.51 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,300 | $23.22 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Iowa is $51,200 a year, or $24.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in Iowa?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Iowa earn at least $57,480 a year. The top 25% earn $57,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,540 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $49,460 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in Iowa?
About 1,100 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.