Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Kentucky
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Kentucky earn a median of $38,080 a year ($18.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,290 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $43,380. Kentucky ranks 40th of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay. There are 0.66 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,650 | $15.70 |
| 25th percentile | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Median | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| 75th percentile | $43,440 | $20.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| Average (mean) | $39,540 | $19.01 |
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 | $3,173.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,586.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,464.62 |
| Weekly | $732.31 |
| Hourly | $18.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,480 | 400 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,380 | 370 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $37,270 | 40 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $40,440 | $19.44 |
| Furniture Finisher | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $24.74 |
| Machinist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,960 | $26.42 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,530 | $27.66 |
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Kentucky is $38,080 a year, or $18.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Kentucky earn at least $48,290 a year. The top 25% earn $43,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,650 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $37,110 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in Kentucky?
About 1,320 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.