Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood Salary in St. Cloud, MN
The median pay for a sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in St. Cloud, MN is $49,710/year ($23.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.63), which stretches that salary to about $56,727 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,206/month — about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $50K get you in St. Cloud?
About sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, woods
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Cloud, MN
Entry-level sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, woods (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K.Top earners bring in $59K or more - a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $50K | +24% | 2,000 |
| Montana | $49K | +23% | 270 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +22% | 850 |
| Washington | $49K | +22% | 1,580 |
| Idaho | $49K | +22% | 590 |
| Iowa | $48K | +19% | 320 |
| Illinois | $48K | +19% | 840 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +19% | 80 |
| California | $46K | +14% | 2,500 |
| Vermont | $45K | +12% | 140 |
| Ohio | $45K | +12% | 2,030 |
| Alaska | $44K | +11% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $44K | +10% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $43K | +8% | 1,590 |
| Louisiana | $43K | +8% | 450 |
Track sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when St. Cloud numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, woods make in St. Cloud, MN?
The median is $49,710 a year - that works out to about $23.9 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,720, and experienced sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, woods can clear $59,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in St. Cloud?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,336/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,206/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 36.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood salary go in St. Cloud?
St. Cloud has a Regional Price Parity of 87.63 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood salary is worth about $56,727 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, woods get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.