SOC 51-7042 · Wausau, WI metro

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing Salary in Wausau, WI

The average salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Wausau, Wisconsin is $43,440 a year ($20.89 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $43,640: half of the 250 people in this job in the Wausau, WI metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($43,570).

$43,440average per year

$20.89 / hourMedian $43,640Take-home ≈ $35,831

  • $35K10th
  • $39K25th
  • $44KMedian
  • $48K75th
  • $52K90th

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

250people in this job
-0%vs U.S. average
#4 of 9Wisconsin metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay range in Wausau

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,360 or more. The middle half of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Wausau earn between $39,060 and $47,660.

  • $35K10th
  • $39K25th
  • $44KMedian
  • $48K75th
  • $52K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$43,440$3,620$20.88
Median$43,640$3,637$20.98
Entry level (25th percentile)$39,060$3,255$18.78
Experienced (75th percentile)$47,660$3,972$22.91

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

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

Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Wausau earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($43,660) and about the same as the U.S. average ($43,570). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $43,380.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Wausau$43,440$43,640$35,160$52,360250
Wisconsin$43,660$44,450$35,430$55,1702,610
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 Wausau

On the average salary of $43,440, a single filer in Wausau takes home about $35,831 a year, or $2,986 a month and $1,378 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.

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

Wisconsin paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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

Prices in the Wausau area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $43,440 buys what about $46,886 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Wausau ($48,790). A typical home costs $274,194, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $43,440 is worth in another city

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

Wausau ranks 4th of 9 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Eau Claire pays the most ($48,760).

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

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 Wausau, WI.

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

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

$20.89 an hour on average, and $20.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

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

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,060, a fair guide to starting pay.

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

About $35,831 a year ($2,986 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,440.

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

The average here is about the same as 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 Wausau, WI (48140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
  • 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 (2026 rules).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 8.97, this job is 9.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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