SOC 51-7042 · Rockford, IL metro

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing Salary in Rockford, IL

The average salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Rockford, Illinois is $42,120 a year ($20.25 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $37,700: half of the 60 people in this job in the Rockford, IL metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($43,570).

$42,120average per year

$20.25 / hourMedian $37,700Take-home ≈ $34,080

  • $36K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $38KMedian
  • $45K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

60people in this job
-3%vs U.S. average
#3 of 4Illinois metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay range in Rockford

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,120 or more. The middle half of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Rockford earn between $37,560 and $45,470.

  • $36K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $38KMedian
  • $45K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$42,120$3,510$20.25
Median$37,700$3,142$18.12
Entry level (25th percentile)$37,560$3,130$18.06
Experienced (75th percentile)$45,470$3,789$21.86

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.

Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Rockford earn about the same as the Illinois average ($43,300) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($43,570). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $43,380.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Rockford$42,120$37,700$36,230$58,12060
Illinois$43,300$41,360$36,970$53,1601,820
United States$43,570$43,380$32,110$56,83061,420

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary after taxes in Rockford

On the average salary of $42,120, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $34,080 a year, or $2,840 a month and $1,311 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).

Illinois paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Rockford a good place for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing)? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $42,120 buys what about $45,706 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $42,120 is worth in another city

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in other Illinois cities

Rockford ranks 3rd of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($44,790).

All Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salaries in Illinois

Highest-paying cities for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing)

Longview, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,100).

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Rockford, IL.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Rockford: questions

How much do woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) make an hour in Rockford?

$20.25 an hour on average, and $18.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) salary in Rockford?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,560, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) take-home pay in Rockford?

About $34,080 a year ($2,840 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,120.

Do woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?

The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($43,570).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-7042; area Rockford, IL (40420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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