# Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

US SOC code 51-7041. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/51-7041

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **40,850** US wood sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, with median pay of **$42,770** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **60,280**, in May 2005. The earliest figure here is [a Census count](https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/manufacturing/202-manufactures-the-lumber-industry.pdf) of **283,260** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era in this work: Optimizing saws and early CNC integration, 1985 to 2010.

Figures: Official statistic (latest count and pay, highest count); Researched context (earliest figure).

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=51-7041&ioType=o) (Official statistic).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1820
- Latest US employment: 40,850 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $42,770 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Outlook: -1% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [17]

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 283,260 | n/a | Decennial Census 1900 [1] |
| 1930 | 180,000 (estimate) | $2,392 (average) | Est., BLS Bulletin No. 560 [2] |
| 1970 | 120,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [3] |
| 2003 | 55,130 | $22,160 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 56,500 | $22,700 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 60,280 | $23,200 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 60,230 | $24,280 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 58,160 | $24,830 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 51,830 | $25,820 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 41,750 | $26,010 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 37,050 | $26,180 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 37,620 | $26,220 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 38,720 | $26,190 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 42,210 | $26,600 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 46,320 | $27,040 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 48,600 | $27,800 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 50,640 | $28,380 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 51,950 | $29,080 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 52,260 | $29,500 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 50,730 | $30,410 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 48,400 | $31,560 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 45,350 | $35,340 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 46,400 | $36,270 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 43,570 | $38,000 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 43,140 | $39,950 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 40,850 | $42,770 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (72)

### Employment series

1. [US Census Bureau, Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900 -- Manufactures, Bulletin No. 202: The Lumber Industry (wage earners in lumber and timber products)](https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/manufacturing/202-manufactures-the-lumber-industry.pdf), US Census Bureau
2. [BLS Bulletin No. 560 -- Wages and Hours of Labor in the Lumber Industry in the United States, 1930 (survey scope and wage data for sawmill occupations)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/wages-hours-labor-lumber-manufacturing-3915/wages-hours-labor-lumber-industry-united-states-1930-493159/fulltext), Bureau of Labor Statistics / FRASER, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3. [Wikipedia -- International Woodworkers of America (peak membership, early 1970s, organization scope)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Woodworkers_of_America), Wikipedia
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

5. [BLS Bulletin No. 560 -- Wages and Hours of Labor in the Lumber Industry in the United States, 1930 (head sawyers: 88.6 cents/hr average; all-worker average: 35.9 cents/hr; avg weeks 56.5 hrs)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/wages-hours-labor-lumber-manufacturing-3915/wages-hours-labor-lumber-industry-united-states-1930-493159/fulltext), Bureau of Labor Statistics / FRASER, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

7. [History of Saw Milling (WoodchuckCanuck.com) -- steam mill in New Orleans 1803, circular saw patents, early mechanization and worker displacement](https://woodchuckcanuck.com/history-of-saw-milling/), WoodchuckCanuck.com
8. [Eastman and Jaquith, Robert Eastman (VintageMachinery.org) -- 1820 patent (issued March 16, 1820) for an inserted-tooth circular saw for a clapboard machine, cites period sources on its spread through US sawmilling](http://vintagemachinery.org/MfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=1914), VintageMachinery.org
9. [The History of the Band Saw -- ACM Italy (Newberry 1808 patent, Disston 1876 exhibition, commercial viability timeline)](https://www.acmitaly.it/en/blog/origins-of-band-saws/), ACM Italy
10. [History of the Lumber Industry in the United States -- Wikipedia (sawmill market boom 1885-1930s, double circular saws, large mill operations)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_lumber_industry_in_the_United_States), Wikipedia
11. [Wikipedia -- International Woodworkers of America (founding 1937, peak membership early 1970s, represents sawmill and timber workers)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Woodworkers_of_America), Wikipedia
12. [Oregon Encyclopedia -- Timber Industry (postwar housing boom, electrified mill operations, union organization in sawmills)](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/timber_industry/), Oregon Encyclopedia / Portland State University
13. [Optimizing Saw: The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Smarter Yield, Lower Waste, and Full Automation (Wood-Saw.com) -- history of optimizing saw development and CNC integration in sawmilling](https://www.wood-saw.com/optimizing-saw-the-ultimate-guide/), Wood-Saw.com
14. [How CNC Woodworking Machines Have Changed Woodworking (Medium / Kevin Groth) -- CNC introduction in the early 1970s, one operator overseeing multiple machines](https://medium.com/@kevinegroth/how-cnc-woodworking-machines-have-changed-woodworking-90833f9ed47c), Medium / Kevin Groth
15. [How Automation Is Changing Millwork Shops (Woodjobs.com) -- CNC handles 60-80% of fabrication work in advanced shops; operator role shifts to oversight, setup, and quality control](https://www.woodjobs.com/automation-in-millwork-shops/), Woodjobs.com
16. [O\*NET OnLine -- 51-7041.00 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (current task list including CNC equipment operation)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-7041.00), O\*NET / BLS

### Forecasts and exposure studies

17. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 51-7041 Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood (2025: 41.2 thousand; 2035: 40.8 thousand; -1.0%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=51-7041&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Historical notes

18. [History of Saw Milling -- WoodchuckCanuck.com (1803 New Orleans steam sawmill, burned by hand-sawyers)](https://woodchuckcanuck.com/history-of-saw-milling/), WoodchuckCanuck.com
19. [The History of the Band Saw -- ACM Italy (Disston band saw at 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition)](https://www.acmitaly.it/en/blog/origins-of-band-saws/), ACM Italy
20. [US Census Bureau, Twelfth Census 1900, Bulletin No. 202 -- The Lumber Industry (33,035 establishments, 283,260 wage earners, skilled vs. common laborer wage differential)](https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/manufacturing/202-manufactures-the-lumber-industry.pdf), US Census Bureau
21. [BLS Bulletin No. 560 -- Wages and Hours of Labor in the Lumber Industry in the United States, 1930 (head sawyers: 88.6 cents/hr; all workers: 35.9 cents/hr)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/wages-hours-labor-lumber-manufacturing-3915/wages-hours-labor-lumber-industry-united-states-1930-493159/fulltext), Bureau of Labor Statistics / FRASER
22. [Wikipedia -- 1935 Pacific Northwest Lumber Strike (STWU, duration, geographic scope)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935_Pacific_Northwest_lumber_strike), Wikipedia
23. [History of the Lumber Industry in the United States -- Wikipedia (Pearl Harbor, wartime lumber orders, labor shortage, women entering mills)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_lumber_industry_in_the_United_States), Wikipedia
24. [O\*NET OnLine -- 51-7041.00 (occupation description noting one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations, from BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-7041.00), O\*NET / BLS
25. [Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis -- "Forest Products Taken to the Woodshed" (2009): 30% employment decline, 30 permanent mill closures, 50% production drop from 2005-2009](https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2009/forest-products-taken-to-the-woodshed), Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

### Predecessors & successors

26. [Wikipedia -- Sawyer (occupation): historical description of pit-sawyer craft and transition to mill sawyers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawyer_%28occupation%29), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-21
- [O\*NET 30.3 — US Department of Labor](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), accessed 2026-05-21

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.