Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders
Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
Table of contents
What they do
Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
- Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
- Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
- Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
- Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Wood Sawing Machine Operators dispose of waste material after completing work assignments. They guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
A typical day for a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender will also include:
- Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut the stock to specified dimensions.
- Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces.
- Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
- Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
- Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Wood Sawing Machine Operators also sharpen blades or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools. They may also lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Wood Sawing Machine Operators clear machine jams, using hand tools. They might also mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
In addition, they unload and roll logs from trucks to sawmill decks or to carriages or move logs in ponds, using pike poles.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends.
To some Wood Sawing Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 38% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Demand for this career is growing fast.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $21,680 to $26,450 per year or $10 to $13 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $48,080 | $23 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $39,010 | $19 |
Median | $31,560 | $15 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $26,450 | $13 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $21,680 | $10 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $46320 | $22.27 |
Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $42300 | $20.34 |
Building Finishing Contractors | $40960 | $19.69 |
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $40080 | $19.27 |
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $37340 | $17.95 |
Logging | $37190 | $17.88 |
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $37170 | $17.87 |
Local Government | $36030 | $17.32 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $35700 | $17.16 |
Machinery Manufacturing | $35680 | $17.15 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 17730 | $34010 | $16.35 |
Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 11680 | $31300 | $15.05 |
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 6080 | $33700 | $16.20 |
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 4260 | $33520 | $16.12 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 2800 | $32740 | $15.74 |
Building Material and Supplies Dealers | 1100 | $34030 | $16.36 |
Employment Services | 900 | $31750 | $15.27 |
Logging | 820 | $37190 | $17.88 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 410 | $35700 | $17.16 |
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 310 | $32010 | $15.39 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Cabinetmaking and Millwork
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
Don’t know which career to pursue?
Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.
Take The Career Quiz