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Sawyer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$42,770median pay per year, or $20.56 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $30,890lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,51025th percentile
  3. $42,770median
  4. $48,62075th percentile
  5. $58,170top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A sawyer in wood products had a median pay of $42,770 a year, below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-1%[3]
Openings per year
4,500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do sawyers make?

BLS calls this job Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood. In May 2025, the median wage was $42,770 a year, or $20.56 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was $43,580 a year, or $20.95 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[2].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30,890 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $58,170[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Point Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $30,890 $14.85
25th percentile[4][9] $36,510 $17.55
Median[1] $42,770 $20.56
75th percentile[4][9] $48,620 $23.37
90th percentile[4][9] $58,170 $27.97

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10]. About 40,850 people held these jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 46 states with published data, Alaska had the highest median at $52,680 a year[12]. Washington followed at $51,940, then Minnesota at $51,330[12]. New Mexico had the lowest median of the listed states, at $34,720[12].

California had the most jobs, with 3,230[13]. Ohio had 2,180, North Carolina 2,020, Oregon 2,010 and Georgia 1,930[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Longview-Kelso, WA had the highest median at $60,100[14]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA followed at $55,280[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs of any metro area, at 600[15].

Show median pay in 46 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[12]$52,680100
Washington$51,9401,720
Minnesota$51,330500
Connecticut$51,150110
Oregon$49,7402,010
Montana$49,090280
Idaho$48,350700
Iowa$48,090240
California$47,3903,230
Massachusetts$47,21060
Maryland$47,060130
Colorado$47,030350
Nebraska$46,970140
Louisiana$46,610500
Illinois$46,530470
Maine$46,210730
New Hampshire$46,090130
Vermont$46,040230
Ohio$45,0102,180
New Jersey$44,63080
Wisconsin$44,4401,880
Utah$43,490180
Arizona$42,870310
Indiana$42,6201,270
New York$42,2501,010
Pennsylvania$40,5901,720
Michigan$40,2601,510
Georgia$39,8601,930
Wyoming$39,47070
Nevada$39,350170
South Carolina$39,300810
Tennessee$39,0701,510
Florida$38,280740
North Carolina$38,1002,020
Missouri$38,0301,380
Alabama$37,5201,880
South Dakota$37,480260
Mississippi$36,9601,910
Kansas$36,930110
Kentucky$36,8101,050
Arkansas$36,7401,240
Texas$36,7401,680
Oklahoma$36,140250
Virginia$35,7901,580
West Virginia$35,590360
New Mexico$34,72070

How to become a sawyer

The details below come from a profile that covers a wider group of woodworkers[16].

Some entry-level jobs can be learned in 1 month or less[20]. Reaching full skill can take anywhere from a few months to over a year[20]. Some workers also train through apprenticeships offered by employers or unions[21].

Credentials are not required, but they can show skill and help a person move up[22]. Because computer-controlled machines are common, CNC machine certification may also help. Community colleges and machine makers offer it[23].

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 59% said the job requires a high school diploma or the equivalent, and 22% said less than a high school diploma[24]. A survey this small is only a rough guide.

What sawyers do

O*NET describes the job as setting up, running or tending wood sawing machines, sometimes including CNC equipment[25]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

In the wider woodworker group, 42% of jobs were in furniture and related product manufacturing in 2025[27]. Workers sometimes handle heavy, bulky materials, and the work can be noisy and dusty. Their safety gear often includes hearing protection, safety glasses and masks or respirators[28]. Woodworkers mostly work full time in regular business hours, though some have varying schedules[29].

BLS says wood sawing machine setters, operators and tenders are among the occupations with the highest injury and illness rates. The saws and tools can cause cuts, so workers must wear safety gear and stay alert[30]. Injuries in the wider group often involve sprains, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and hernias[31]. Only 1% of sawyers were self-employed in 2025[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 41,200 to 40,800 jobs[3]. That compares with 3.5% growth for all occupations[33]. These counts include self-employed workers[3], so they differ from the OEWS job count of 40,850[11].

About 4,500 openings are projected each year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.9% of workers leave the labor force and 7% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is below the all-occupations median, but entry needs a high school diploma and no related experience[1][2][6]. Pay differs by state, with medians from $34,720 in New Mexico to $52,680 in Alaska[12]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly, yet about 4,500 openings a year are expected as workers leave[3][5][34]. BLS notes a high injury rate, so the work may suit people who are comfortable following safety rules around saws[30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sawyer make an hour?
The median was $20.56 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $14.85 and the 90th was $27.97[9].
What education do you need to be a sawyer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience, and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
How long does it take to learn sawing machine work?
In the wider woodworker group, some entry-level jobs can be learned in 1 month or less[20]. Reaching full skill can take anywhere from a few months to over a year[20].
Is sawyer a job in demand?
BLS projects a 1% decline from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations, with about 4,500 openings a year[3][33][5].
What is the highest paying state for sawyers?
Alaska had the highest median at $52,680 a year, followed by Washington at $51,940[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in the US was $42,770 per year and $20.56 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is projected to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 41,200 to 40,800 jobs (a change of -400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood: 10th percentile $30,890, 25th percentile $36,510, 75th percentile $48,620, 90th percentile $58,170. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,500 openings for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood was $43,580 per year and $20.95 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood: 10th percentile $14.85, 25th percentile $17.55, 75th percentile $23.37, 90th percentile $27.97. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 40,850 people were employed as Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood jobs: California 3,230; Ohio 2,180; North Carolina 2,020; Oregon 2,010; Georgia 1,930. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (areas with at least 100 jobs): Longview-Kelso, WA $60,100; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $55,280; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $54,090; Redding, CA $50,630; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,740; Cleveland, OH $49,610; Medford, OR $49,230; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $48,700. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 600 (median $46,380); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 560 (median $49,740); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 550 (median $39,610); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 430 (median $43,800); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 420 (median $37,620); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 420 (median $47,460). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Woodworkers" covers Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 51-7041.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 59%, Less than a High School Diploma 22%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10%, Some College Courses 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET description of Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood. O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of woodworkers in 2025: Furniture and related product manufacturing 42%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood: 3.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.