51
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing is a notable career in the 51 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 51-7042 |
| title | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing |
| onet code | 51-7042.00 |
| description | Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 51 |
| tot emp | 63,350 |
| a mean | 42,290 |
| a median | 40,440 |
| a pct10 | 30,920 |
| a pct25 | 36,260 |
| a pct75 | 47,650 |
| a pct90 | 54,340 |
| h mean | 20 |
| h median | 19 |
The day-to-day work of a woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing typically centers on set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, and Quality Control Analysis. Across the top 8 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.19 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (73.1%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 2% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Washington at $50,170 and lowest in Tennessee at $34,340 — a 1.5× spread. The top five states (Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Montana, Iowa) average $48,870. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $50,170 | $51,640 | $41,690 | $61,390 | 1,430 |
| Oregon | $49,430 | $48,540 | $37,980 | $58,010 | 2,030 |
| Minnesota | $48,920 | $49,720 | $39,640 | $59,880 | 720 |
| Montana | $47,940 | $46,140 | $35,360 | $56,520 | 350 |
| Iowa | $47,890 | $47,980 | $46,590 | $51,490 | 1,570 |
| Nebraska | $47,590 | $45,180 | $36,150 | $56,790 | 410 |
| Rhode Island | $47,570 | $47,400 | $29,120 | $64,770 | 80 |
| Michigan | $46,180 | $44,480 | $36,290 | $51,890 | 4,810 |
| Louisiana | $46,040 | $45,930 | $36,440 | $58,000 | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $45,960 | $48,070 | $31,680 | $67,120 | 520 |
| Nevada | $45,820 | $45,300 | $38,490 | $53,660 | 350 |
| Idaho | $45,730 | $45,380 | $33,050 | $58,370 | 780 |
| Maryland | $45,530 | $47,480 | $33,610 | $66,770 | 130 |
| California | $45,020 | $45,280 | $37,380 | $56,510 | 3,440 |
| Connecticut | $44,970 | $46,680 | $37,200 | $55,450 | 130 |
| Vermont | $44,900 | $45,100 | $38,000 | $56,300 | 310 |
| Illinois | $44,620 | $44,140 | $34,570 | $55,640 | 1,430 |
| Colorado | $44,580 | $46,210 | $35,640 | $61,120 | 400 |
| Ohio | $44,510 | $43,980 | $33,320 | $56,390 | 2,650 |
| Massachusetts | $43,880 | $44,430 | $35,980 | $56,760 | 1,120 |
| North Dakota | $43,580 | $42,960 | $37,210 | $48,640 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,020 | $43,180 | $34,980 | $53,470 | 3,190 |
| Wisconsin | $41,400 | $42,790 | $35,240 | $50,850 | 3,090 |
| West Virginia | $41,290 | $38,400 | $29,470 | $47,610 | 410 |
| South Dakota | $41,070 | $41,070 | $32,120 | $48,660 | 610 |
| New York | $40,450 | $45,660 | $34,740 | $67,680 | 1,420 |
| New Jersey | $40,190 | $46,550 | $35,480 | $60,750 | 800 |
| South Carolina | $40,190 | $40,300 | $28,170 | $54,120 | 1,500 |
| Arizona | $39,870 | $41,410 | $36,160 | $48,320 | — |
| Indiana | $39,860 | $42,840 | $31,220 | $58,150 | 3,980 |
| Maine | $39,350 | $42,020 | $35,220 | $49,450 | 470 |
| Wyoming | $38,640 | $41,550 | $28,840 | $50,750 | 60 |
| Missouri | $37,890 | $38,880 | $29,010 | $48,030 | 800 |
| Utah | $37,880 | $40,540 | $29,940 | $53,700 | 770 |
| Kansas | $37,630 | $40,420 | $30,100 | $57,160 | 450 |
| New Mexico | $37,440 | $39,410 | $30,510 | $50,750 | 200 |
| North Carolina | $37,350 | $38,690 | $29,470 | $47,970 | 3,870 |
| Mississippi | $37,100 | $39,290 | $29,650 | $48,980 | 880 |
| Georgia | $37,070 | $40,050 | $29,540 | $52,240 | 2,520 |
| Kentucky | $37,050 | $37,180 | $28,760 | $45,800 | 1,560 |
| Virginia | $37,030 | $39,570 | $30,730 | $48,710 | 1,580 |
| Florida | $36,810 | $39,630 | $28,030 | $54,000 | 1,370 |
| Alabama | $36,600 | $37,300 | $27,680 | $49,880 | 2,750 |
| Arkansas | $36,520 | $37,900 | $25,150 | $48,930 | 1,070 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 | $39,800 | $31,520 | $59,190 | 220 |
| Texas | $34,630 | $35,760 | $26,520 | $48,790 | 2,370 |
| Tennessee | $34,340 | $35,640 | $29,390 | $45,640 | 2,250 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Adzing and Boring Machine Operator or Artificial Log Machine Operator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing compares to others in the 51 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.