Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Tennessee
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Tennessee earn a median of $35,290 a year ($16.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,420 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $43,380. Tennessee ranks 46th of 47 states for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing pay. There are 0.56 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| 25th percentile | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| Median | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| 75th percentile | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Average (mean) | $36,350 | $17.48 |
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 | $2,940.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,470.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,357.31 |
| Weekly | $678.65 |
| Hourly | $16.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $40,560 | 460 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 170 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,580 | 70 |
| Knoxville, TN | $33,680 | 220 |
| Morristown, TN | $31,270 | 150 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $34,790 | $16.73 |
| Furniture Finisher | $32,160 | $15.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Tennessee is $35,290 a year, or $16.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Tennessee earn at least $46,420 a year. The top 25% earn $40,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,330 a year, and a quarter of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing earn $31,500 or less.
How many woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing work in Tennessee?
About 1,840 woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.