What do they do?

Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.

Also known as:

Backup Sawyer, Band Saw Operator, Bandmill Operator, Chop Saw Operator, Curve Saw Operator, Cut Off Saw Operator, Debarker Operator, Edgerman, Knot Saw Operator, Panel Saw Operator, Planer, Resaw Operator, Rip Saw Operator, Saw Operator, Sawyer, Trim Saw Operator, Utility Operator

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Projected Employment For All United States

No Data Available
  • 0.2%

    Change

    Select a state to see its job growth rate ranking
    5,500

    Job Openings

    Select a state to see its net job growth ranking

Best colleges for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • High school diploma equivalent  (46%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (32%)
  • Some college, no degree  (14%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (4%)
  • Associate's degree  (4%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)
  • Master's degree  (<1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

Select Type of Degree:

★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
  • Inspect lumber or raw woodstock.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Clear equipment jams.
  • Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Count finished products or workpieces.
  • Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.
  • Stack finished items for further processing or shipment.
  • Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Position raw materials on processing or production equipment.
  • Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
  • Operate woodworking equipment.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Dispose of trash or waste materials.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

careeronestop logo Videos: CareerOneStop, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development

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