Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Reading, PA
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $45,070 a year ($21.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,720 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $43,380. Pay here is about the same as the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,980. There are 0.84 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 $47,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,740 | $18.14 |
| 25th percentile | $40,050 | $19.26 |
| Median | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| 75th percentile | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Average (mean) | $47,070 | $22.63 |
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 | $3,755.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,877.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,733.46 |
| Weekly | $866.73 |
| Hourly | $21.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,030 | 380 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $46,850 | 360 |
| Lancaster, PA | $45,830 | 340 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $44,800 | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $44,690 | 70 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $43,420 | 190 |
| Altoona, PA | $43,000 | 30 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $38,800 | 90 |
| Williamsport, PA | $37,550 | 90 |
| Erie, PA | $35,360 | 50 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| Furniture Finisher | $49,760 | $23.92 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Machinist | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,260 | $26.57 |
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in the Reading, PA metro area is $45,070 a year, or $21.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $70,720 a year. The top 25% earn $47,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,740 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $40,050 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in Reading, PA?
About 150 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.