Occupation · SOC 51-7042
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.
Median wage
$40,440
$30,920–$54,340
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
63,350
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
75 mapped
Core skills
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisMonitoringTroubleshootingSpeakingEquipment MaintenanceCritical ThinkingRepairingJudgment and Decision MakingEquipment SelectionActive ListeningTime ManagementReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMathematicsSocial PerceptivenessLearning StrategiesCoordinationSystems EvaluationWritingTechnology DesignService OrientationPersuasionOperations AnalysisNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingInstallationSystems AnalysisProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesScience
Knowledge areas
MechanicalProduction and ProcessingMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityBuilding and ConstructionEducation and TrainingDesignEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementTransportationEngineering and TechnologyCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsChemistrySales and MarketingPersonnel and Human ResourcesPhysicsMedicine and DentistryAdministrativePsychologyCommunications and MediaEconomics and AccountingTherapy and CounselingBiologyTelecommunicationsForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyLaw and GovernmentSociology and AnthropologyGeographyFood ProductionHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
AS/400 DatabaseAdobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopApple macOSAutodesk AutoCADComputer aided design and drafting CADD softwareComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareComputerized numerical control CNC softwareDassault Systemes CATIADassault Systemes SolidWorksEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareInventory control softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordMicrosoft operating systemOracle JavaTimekeeping softwareVero Software ALPHACAMWord processing softwareYouTube
Representative tasks
Controlling Machines and ProcessesHandling and Moving ObjectsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGetting InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsThinking CreativelyOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDocumenting/Recording InformationTraining and Teaching OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAnalyzing Data or InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentCoaching and Developing OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersWorking with ComputersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesSelling or Influencing OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the Public
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Woodworking machine controls and basic startup procedures — identify and follow under direct supervisor guidance on a production shop floor.Raw woodstock samples — inspect visually for obvious surface defects and size non-conformance with coach oversight in a mill or cabinet shop.Hand tools and basic measuring instruments — use to install pre-selected sanding belts or drill bits on assigned machines under step-by-step instruction.Trial cuts on scrap material — perform following written setup sheets to verify machine operation before a supervised production run.Machine guards and personal protective equipment — apply correctly before operating any woodworking equipment in compliance with shop safety protocols.Finished workpieces — compare against a physical template or sample part to identify obvious shape or smoothness deviations during a supervised quality check.Simple machine adjustment controls — set to specified positions as directed by a lead operator on drill presses or sanders in a production environment.Calipers and steel rules — use to take basic dimensional measurements on finished wood parts and record results on a shop traveler.Machine alarm signals and warning indicators — recognize and report promptly to a supervisor during routine production monitoring shifts.Inventory and material handling procedures — follow to retrieve correct woodstock grades and sizes from the warehouse for assigned machine operations.
developing
Drill presses, lathes, routers, and sanders — set up and operate with minimal oversight to produce standard parts within specification on a production line.Finished workpieces — examine using calipers, gauges, and templates to verify dimensions and surface quality, recording non-conformances on quality logs.Machine tables and cutting device positions — adjust independently to achieve specified depth-of-cut, angle, and profile for routine production orders.Blades and cutterheads — change and align using hand tools and rules, confirming correct installation before resuming a production run.Raw woodstock batches — evaluate for knots, warping, and grain defects, sorting and flagging non-conforming material without supervisor prompting.Machine operation parameters — monitor continuously during a shift and make corrective adjustments to maintain consistent output quality.Sanding-belt and boring-bit alignments — modify using hand tools to correct minor drift or tear patterns identified during routine mid-run inspections.Trial cut results — interpret against specification tolerances and iterate control settings until the machine produces acceptable output reliably.Routine equipment maintenance tasks — perform on assigned machines, including lubrication, belt tension checks, and minor blade sharpening, following maintenance schedules.Verbal production instructions and shift change briefings — communicate clearly with team members and supervisors regarding machine status and part quality issues.
proficient
Computerized and manual woodworking machines — program, set up, and operate autonomously across multiple machine types to fulfill varied production orders in a high-volume shop.Complex non-routine defects in finished workpieces — diagnose root cause by correlating machine settings, feed rates, and material characteristics, then implement corrective actions independently.CAM or industrial control software — configure and update toolpaths and machine parameters to optimize cut quality and cycle time for new part specifications.Multi-step machine changeovers — execute efficiently, including full blade, cutterhead, and boring-bit replacement, alignment verification, and trial cut approval, with no supervisory oversight.In-process quality control analysis — apply statistical sampling and gauge measurement techniques to detect process drift and prevent defective batches from advancing downstream.Mechanical troubleshooting — isolate and resolve equipment malfunctions, including feed mechanism failures and spindle runout, restoring production uptime with minimal delay.Raw material certification and specification review — cross-reference woodstock supplier documents against job requirements and reject non-conforming loads before they enter the production stream.Machine maintenance plans — develop and carry out preventive schedules that extend tool life and reduce unplanned downtime across an assigned cell of woodworking equipment.ERP or inventory management systems — query and update to track material consumption, production output, and tooling inventory accurately throughout the shift.Safety and quality non-conformance findings — document thoroughly and present findings to engineering or quality teams, recommending process changes supported by production data.
advanced
Machine setup standards and operating procedures — author and enforce across the entire woodworking production area to ensure consistent quality and regulatory compliance.Workforce training programs for machine operators — design and deliver, covering equipment operation, quality inspection, and safety, accelerating new-hire competency development.Production cell layout and equipment selection decisions — lead by evaluating machine capabilities, throughput requirements, and capital costs to maximize departmental efficiency.Chronic quality or throughput problems — investigate at a systems level, applying root-cause analysis across machines, materials, and operator practices, and driving permanent corrective actions.CAD/CAM and enterprise software integration projects — champion by coordinating between IT, engineering, and production teams to digitize and streamline woodworking workflows.Preventive and predictive maintenance strategies — establish for the full machine fleet, setting inspection intervals and tooling replacement thresholds that minimize unplanned downtime.Continuous improvement initiatives — lead using lean or process improvement methods to reduce scrap, cycle time, and machine changeover duration across the production department.Supplier quality relationships — manage by setting raw woodstock specification standards, auditing incoming material processes, and resolving persistent non-conformance issues with vendor partners.Safety culture and hazard-mitigation programs — develop and champion for the woodworking department, ensuring compliance with OSHA standards and reducing recordable incident rates.Departmental production metrics and KPIs — analyze and report to plant leadership, translating machine-level data into strategic recommendations for capacity planning and capital investment.
Also known as
286 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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