SOC 51-7042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing — Arkansas
Arkansas · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Arkansas is $36,850 per year, 15.1% below the national median of $43,380.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Arkansas is $36,850 per year, 15.1% below the national median of $43,380. Half of workers earn between $28,540 and $48,480. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $25,960 and the ninetieth at $59,630.
Employment stands at 760, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Arkansas ranks number 43rd out of 47 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Fort Smith records the highest median at $38,100. Of the 673 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 549th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | −40.2% |
| 25th | $28,540 | −34.2% |
| Median (50th) | $36,850 | −15.1% |
| 75th | $48,480 | +11.8% |
| 90th | $59,630 | +37.5% |
| Mean | $39,600 | −8.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Smith | $38,100 | 40 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $35,350 | 80 | |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $33,860 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $36,850 goes as far as $42,405 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,405US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,850 a year, 15.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,960 to $59,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 760 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Smith, at $38,100.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $36,850, or $17.71 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $43,380, so pay in Arkansas is 15.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $59,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,960 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fort Smith, at $38,100 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 760 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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