Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $38,230 -4.3% vs national
Median hourly $18.38
10th percentile $32,980
90th percentile $64,550
Employed locally 400
National median $39,950

Compare Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,980
    25th
    $37,370
    50th (median)
    $38,230
    75th
    $54,060
    90th
    $64,550

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary vs area income 43% Median Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary is 57% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

    Metro areaMedian salary
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $54,620
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $54,340
    Missoula, MT $53,750
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $51,520
    Albany, OR $51,410

    Nearby metros — Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $54,340
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,450
    Canton-Massillon, OH $49,120
    East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $47,850
    Illinois $47,730
    Huntsville, AL $46,100

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,330
    Machinists$57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Chicago, IL-IN is $18.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $33.57 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salaries?

    The median Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 4.3% below the national median of $39,950. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Chicago?

    Entry-level Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (10th percentile) earn around $32,980 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,370.