Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earn a median salary of $39,950 per year, ranking in the top 85% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.6% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood earn?

The median annual wage for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood is $39,950. That puts sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood at #688 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood is -0.6%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 45K positions in 2024 to 44K in 2034, a net change of -1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
2. 2.Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
3. 3.Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
4. 4.Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
5. 5.Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.
6. 6.Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
7. 7.Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.
8. 8.Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.

Top skills for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood?

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood