Life As a Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
Example of Woodworking Machine Operator Job Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate CNC equipment.
A Day in the Life of a Woodworking Machine Operator
- Monitor operation of machines and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications.
- Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines.
- Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.
- Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders.
- Examine finished workpieces for smoothness, shape, angle, depth-of-cut, or conformity to specifications and verify dimensions, visually and using hands, rules, calipers, templates, or gauges.
- Sharpen knives, bits, or other cutting or shaping tools.
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Woodworking Machine Operator Needed Skills
When polled, Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Woodworking Machine Operator Jobs
- Chip Machine Operator
- Lathe Spotter
- Automatic Nailing Machine Operator
- Box Blank Machine Operator
- Nail Sticker
Woodworking Machine Operator Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 77,100 jobs in the United States for Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,400 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Woodworking Machine Operator are Utah, Florida, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Kansas, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Woodworking Machine Operator
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make between $20,870 and $44,420 a year.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Wyoming, Connecticut, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
How much do Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,600 |
| Alaska | $36,660 |
| Arizona | $27,500 |
| Arkansas | $28,110 |
| California | $32,360 |
| Colorado | $37,050 |
| Connecticut | $40,440 |
| Florida | $29,150 |
| Georgia | $27,650 |
| Hawaii | $36,070 |
| Idaho | $33,350 |
| Illinois | $33,310 |
| Indiana | $31,140 |
| Iowa | $33,680 |
| Kansas | $32,160 |
| Kentucky | $27,700 |
| Louisiana | $31,570 |
| Maine | $30,240 |
| Maryland | $32,160 |
| Massachusetts | $37,660 |
| Michigan | $30,870 |
| Minnesota | $36,320 |
| Mississippi | $29,660 |
| Missouri | $28,940 |
| Montana | $34,530 |
| Nebraska | $30,160 |
| Nevada | $38,300 |
| New Hampshire | $35,240 |
| New Jersey | $33,090 |
| New Mexico | $36,440 |
| New York | $35,300 |
| North Carolina | $29,630 |
| North Dakota | $33,570 |
| Ohio | $31,500 |
| Oklahoma | $31,190 |
| Oregon | $35,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,220 |
| Rhode Island | $32,730 |
| South Carolina | $29,360 |
| South Dakota | $29,800 |
| Tennessee | $28,800 |
| Texas | $26,790 |
| Utah | $31,160 |
| Vermont | $31,650 |
| Virginia | $28,730 |
| Washington | $35,530 |
| West Virginia | $29,430 |
| Wisconsin | $31,510 |
| Wyoming | $41,170 |
What Tools do Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- YouTube
- Apple macOS
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
Becoming a Woodworking Machine Operator
Are there Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Woodworking Machine Operator?
Who Employs Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Below are examples of industries where Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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