SOC 51-7042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $46,370 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $43,380.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $46,370 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $43,380. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,540 and $49,670. The lowest tenth earn under $37,700, while the highest tenth earn more than $57,520.
Employment stands at 3,530, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 15th by median wage. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,970. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 661st of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,700 | −13.1% |
| 25th | $39,540 | −8.9% |
| Median (50th) | $46,370 | +6.9% |
| 75th | $49,670 | +14.5% |
| 90th | $57,520 | +32.6% |
| Mean | $46,570 | +7.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $50,970 | 220 | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $47,390 | 100 | |
| 3 | Chico | $46,940 | 30 | |
| 4 | Sacramento | $46,940 | 280 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $46,730 | 180 | |
| 6 | Redding | $46,690 | 60 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $46,200 | 580 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $45,660 | 850 | |
| 9 | Stockton | $45,630 | 140 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $44,740 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $46,370 buys what $41,888 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,888US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,370 a year, 6.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,700 to $57,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,530 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 15th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $50,970.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in California?
The median annual wage is $46,370, or $22.29 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 California is 6.9% higher. 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 California earns more than $57,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,700 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 San Francisco, at $50,970 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,530 jobs in this occupation in California. 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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