Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,900 or more. The middle half of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Chattanooga earn between $31,680 and $38,410.
- $29K10th
- $32K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,820 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Median | $35,580 | $2,965 | $17.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,680 | $2,640 | $15.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,410 | $3,201 | $18.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($36,350) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($43,570). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $43,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $36,820 | $35,580 | $29,450 | $47,900 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $36,350 | $35,290 | $29,330 | $46,420 | 1,840 |
| United States | $43,570 | $43,380 | $32,110 | $56,830 | 61,420 |
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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $36,820, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $31,765 a year, or $2,647 a month and $1,222 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $31,765 | $2,647 |
| Working in GA | $30,676 | $2,556 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $36,820 buys what about $40,256 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($39,950).
- Nashville$39,950
- Memphis$37,600
- Chattanooga$36,820
- Knoxville$36,280
- Morristown$33,330
All Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salaries in Tennessee
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).
- Longview, WA$57,100
- Des Moines, IA$54,550
- Minneapolis, MN$54,430
- Seattle, WA$54,350
- Albany, OR$53,640
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary by city
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Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) make an hour in Chattanooga?
$17.70 an hour on average, and $17.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $31,765 a year ($2,647 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,820. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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