Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in North Carolina
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in North Carolina earn a median of $37,550 a year ($18.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,120 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $43,380. North Carolina ranks 41st of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay. There are 0.83 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| 25th percentile | $32,210 | $15.49 |
| Median | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 75th percentile | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| Average (mean) | $38,990 | $18.74 |
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 | $3,129.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,564.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,444.23 |
| Weekly | $722.12 |
| Hourly | $18.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $45,430 | 220 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $42,070 | 680 |
| Asheville, NC | $39,530 | 80 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $38,310 | 720 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,290 | 80 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $37,560 | 480 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $37,550 | 360 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $37,200 | 160 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Furniture Finisher | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Baker | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Machinist | $55,230 | $26.56 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $35,160 | $16.91 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in North Carolina is $37,550 a year, or $18.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in North Carolina earn at least $48,120 a year. The top 25% earn $44,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,180 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $32,210 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in North Carolina?
About 4,090 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.