SOC 51-7042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing — Portland
Portland-South Portland, ME · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Portland, ME comes to $47,360 a year, ahead of the national median of $43,380 by 9.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Portland, ME comes to $47,360 a year, ahead of the national median of $43,380 by 9.2%. Pay ranges from under $40,590 at the tenth percentile to more than $58,610 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,050 to $58,130.
Employment stands at 80, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bangor records the highest median at $43,300. Of the 501 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 408th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,590 | −6.4% |
| 25th | $44,050 | +1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $47,360 | +9.2% |
| 75th | $58,130 | +34.0% |
| 90th | $58,610 | +35.1% |
| Mean | $49,750 | +14.7% |
Other metro areas in Maine
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Portland run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $47,360 goes as far as $48,774 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,774US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,360 a year, 9.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,590 to $58,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bangor, at $43,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Portland, ME?
The median annual wage is $47,360, or $22.77 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 Portland, ME is 9.2% 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 Portland, ME earns more than $58,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,590 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 Bangor, at $43,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Portland, ME. 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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