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Salary comparison

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators: Who Earns More?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators out-earn Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing by $1K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing land at $43,380 and Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators at $44,650. The education gap is real: woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing is Washington ($52,980); for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators it's District of Columbia ($50,330).

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Median salary
$43,380
$44,650
Hourly rate
$20.86/hr
$21.47/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$32,110
$33,280
Senior level (90th %)
$56,830
$64,880
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
61,420
1,405,030
Job growth (10-year)
-1.8%
-0.1%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Washington
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing median pay.

State
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Washington
$52,980
$48,260
Minnesota
$51,540
$46,920
Iowa
$51,200
$48,920
Oregon
$49,480
$46,910
Colorado
$46,500
$46,150
New Hampshire
$46,450
$46,940
Massachusetts
$46,430
$46,720
California
$46,370
$47,720
North Dakota
$45,820
$47,250
Wisconsin
$44,450
$45,670
Maine
$44,370
$45,970
Ohio
$43,930
$45,720
Nevada
$41,090
$49,050
Missouri
$38,640
$46,480
Kentucky
$38,080
$47,950

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators earn more nationally. The median is $43,380 for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing versus $44,650 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators, a difference of $1K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators has the better 10-year outlook at -0.1% projected growth, compared to -1.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing at $52,980/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing earn $52,980 vs. $48,260 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary breakdownView →Full Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators by take-home payExplore →How to become a woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawingGuide →How to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorsGuide →