SOC 51-7042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing — Elkhart
Elkhart-Goshen, IN · 4 metro areas compared
At $44,790, median pay for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Elkhart, IN tracks the national median of $43,380 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $44,790, median pay for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Elkhart, IN tracks the national median of $43,380 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,890 and $47,590. The lowest tenth earn under $36,300, while the highest tenth earn more than $61,820.
Employment stands at 1,070, or 8.4 jobs per thousand held locally. South Bend leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $44,530. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 225th of 307 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,300 | −16.3% |
| 25th | $37,890 | −12.7% |
| Median (50th) | $44,790 | +3.3% |
| 75th | $47,590 | +9.7% |
| 90th | $61,820 | +42.5% |
| Mean | $45,120 | +4.0% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Bend | $44,530 | 180 | |
| 2 | Indianapolis | $40,370 | 290 | |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | $39,110 | 80 | |
| 4 | Terre Haute | $38,650 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Elkhart run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $44,790 goes as far as $48,006 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,790as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,006US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,790 a year, 3.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,300 to $61,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,070 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is South Bend, at $44,530.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Elkhart, IN?
The median annual wage is $44,790, or $21.54 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 Elkhart, IN is 3.3% 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 Elkhart, IN earns more than $61,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,300 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 South Bend, at $44,530 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,070 jobs in this occupation in Elkhart, IN. 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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