Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in South Dakota
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in South Dakota earn a median of $41,740 a year ($20.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,870 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $43,380. South Dakota ranks 28th of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay. There are 1.1 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,070 | $14.94 |
| 25th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Median | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| 75th percentile | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,870 | $24.94 |
| Average (mean) | $42,470 | $20.42 |
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 | $3,478.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,739.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,605.38 |
| Weekly | $802.69 |
| Hourly | $20.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota 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 South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $43,140 | 150 |
| Rapid City, SD | $37,920 | 130 |
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 South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Furniture Finisher | $39,340 | $18.91 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,440 | $23.77 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,040 | $35.12 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $53,370 | $25.66 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,860 | $21.09 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $43,180 | $20.76 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,750 | $19.59 |
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in South Dakota is $41,740 a year, or $20.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in South Dakota earn at least $51,870 a year. The top 25% earn $47,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,070 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $36,510 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in South Dakota?
About 490 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.