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Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

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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.

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.

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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.

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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?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Woodworking Machine Operator?

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Who Employs Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

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Below are examples of industries where Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:

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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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