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.

Also called: Boring Machine Operator, Cabinet Maker, Knot Saw Operator, Lathe Operator, Machine Operator, Molder Operator, Router Operator, Sander, Sander Operator, Adzing and Boring Machine Operator, Artificial Log Machine Operator, Automatic Clipper, Automatic Nailing Machine Operator, Automatic Profile Shaper Operator, Balloon Sander, Band Nailer, Bander, Barker Operator, Barrel Builder, Barrel Charrer, Barrel Lathe Operator, Barrel Maker, Basket Assembler, Basket Braider, Basket Maker, Basket Weaver, Bender Machine Operator, Bending Frame Operator, Blind Slat Stapling Machine Operator, Board Finisher, Borer, Bottom Hoop Driver, Bottom Turning Lathe Tender, Bottom Turning Lathe Turner, Bowl Turner, Box Blank Machine Operator, Box Stapler, Box-Blank-Machine Operator, Briar Cutter, Bucker, Bucket Chucker, Bucket Turner, Burn Table Operator, Checkering Machine Adjuster, Chip Machine Operator, Chip Mixing Machine Operator, Chipper, Chipper Machine Operator, Chucking and Boring Machine Operator, Chucking Machine Operator, Chucking Machine Set Up Operator, Cleat Blanker, Cleat Maker, Cleater, CNC Wood Lathe Operator (Computer Numerical Control Wood Lathe Operator), CNC Wood Lathe Operator (Computer Numerically Controlled Wood Lathe Operator), Copy Lathe Tender, Core Composer Feeder, Core Layer Machine Operator, Cork Grinder, Cork Molder, Corrugated Fastener Driver, Corrugator, Creosoting Engineer, Cylinder Sander Operator, Dado Operator, Dolly Operator, Dollyman, Door Clamper, Doors Prefitter, Double End Trimmer, Dovetail Machine Operator, Dovetailer, Dowel Inserting Machine Operator, Dowel Machine Operator, Dowel Maker, Doweler, Embossing Machine Operator, End Frazer, End Matcher, End Stapler, End Touching Machine Operator, Excelsior Machine Operator, Excelsior Machine Tender, Fastener, Flake Cutter Operator, Flooring Machine Operator, Foot Miter Operator, Frame Polisher, Frame Table Operator, Framer, Frazer, Grader, Groover and Striper Operator, Header, Heading Machine Operator, Heading Pinner, Heel Nailing Machine Operator, Hinging Machine Operator, Hoop Expander, Hoop Machine Operator, Hoop Maker, Hoop Riveter, Hooper, Impregnator, Incising Machine Operator, Inletter, Inside Barrel Lathe Operator, Jointer Machine Operator, Jointer Operator, Knife Setter, Laminating Machine Operator, Laminator, Lap Machine Operator, Lapper, Last Scourer, Last Trimmer, Last Turner, Lathe Sander, Lathe Set Up Operator, Lathe Spotter, Linderman, Linderman Machine Operator, Linderman Operator, Line Tender, Lock Corner Machine Operator, Log Cooker, Lumber Press Operator, Lumber Tripper, Machine Bender, Machine Sander, Machine Setter, Machine Setup Operator, Machine Slat Basket Maker, Machine Wood Sander, Machine Woodworking Sander, Miller, Molder Feeder, Molding Cutter, Molding Sander, Mortising Machine Operator, Multi-Purpose Machine Operator, Multiple Drum Sander, Nail Kegger, Nail Setter, Nail Sticker, Nailer, Nailer Operator, Nailhead Operator, Nailhead Setter, Nailing Machine Operator, Outside Barrel Lathe Operator, Pipe and Tank Fabricator, Planer, Planer Operator, Planer Setup Operator, Planer Type Milling Machine Setup Operator, Planing Machine Operator, Plasma Operator, Plasma Table Operator, Plow and Boring Machine Tender, Plug Machine Operator, Plugging Machine Operator, Plywood Scarfer Tender, Pole Peeling Machine Operator, Portable Machine Sander, Power Barker, Power Barker Operator, Power Bender Operator, Profile Shaper Operator, Pulley Mortiser Operator, Puncher, Putty Worker, Rabbet Operator, Rafter Cutting Machine Operator, Rail Bender, Repair Table Operator, Retort Engineer, Rodding Machine Tender, Roof Truss Builder, Roof Truss Machine Tender, Rough Planer Tender, Rounding Machine Tender, Router, Router Tender, Sanding Machine Buffer, Sanding Machine Operator or Tender, Sanding Machine Tender, Scooping Machine Tender, Set Up Mechanic, Set Up Operator, Set Up Worker, Set-Up Mechanic, Shake Backboard Notcher, Shank Threader, Shaper Operator, Shook Machine Operator, Shuttle Spotter, Sizing Machine Tender, Skiver, Skiving Machine Operator, Skoog Machine Operator, Skoog Operator, Skoog Patching Machine Operator, Slab Tripper, Slack Cooper, Slat Basket Maker, Slicing Machine Operator, Slicing Machine Tender, Small Craft Operator, Smoking Pipe Driller and Threader, Spar Machine Operator, Speed Belt Sander, Speed Belt Sander Tender, Spindle Carver, Splicer Operator, Splitter Tender, Splitting Machine Operator, Splitting Machine Tender, Squeezer, Squeezer Operator, Stacker Tender, Stapler, Stapling Machine Operator, Stave Jointer, Stave Machine Tender, Steam Box Operator, Stemhole Borer, Stock Checker, Stroke Belt Sander Operator, Swing Type Lathe Operator, Tenon Operator, Tenoner Operator, Timber Sizer, Timber Sizer Operator, Tip Inserter, Tongue and Groove Machine Operator, Touch-Up Carver, Trans Router, Treating Engineer, Trimmer and Borer Machine Operator, Trimming Machine Set-Up Operator, Truss Builder, Turner, Turning Lathe Tender, Turning Machine Set-Up Operator, Turning Sander Operator, Turning Sander Tender, Turret Lathe Operator, Turret Lathe Set Up Operator, Veneer Clipper, Veneer Joiner, Veneer Jointer, Veneer Jointer Operator, Veneer Lathe Operator, Veneer Press Operator, Veneer Slicing Machine Operator, Veneer Splicer, Whiting Machine Operator, Wire Stitcher, Wood Borer, Wood Boring Machine Operator, Wood Carving Lathe Operator, Wood Carving Machine Operator, Wood Chopper, Wood Coat Hanger Shaper Machine Operator, Wood Dowel Machine Operator, Wood Drill Operator, Wood Drilling Machine Operator, Wood Gouger, Wood Handler, Wood Heel Back Liner, Wood Lathe Operator, Wood Machine Carver, Wood Miller, Wood Milling Machine Hand, Wood Milling Machine Operator, Wood Milling Machine Tender, Wood Molder, Wood Planer, Wood Router, Wood Router Hand, Wood Turner, Wood Turning Lathe Operator, Woodworking Belt Sander, Woodworking Machine Setter

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines.
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.
Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.
Monitor operation of machines and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications.
Examine raw woodstock for defects and to ensure conformity to size and other specification standards.
Adjust machine tables or cutting devices and set controls on machines to produce specified cuts or operations.
Install and adjust blades, cutterheads, boring-bits, or sanding-belts, using hand tools and rules.
Change alignment and adjustment of sanding, cutting, or boring machine guides to prevent defects in finished products, using hand tools.
Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders.
Feed stock through feed mechanisms or conveyors into planing, shaping, boring, mortising, or sanding machines to produce desired components.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Monitoring
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Equipment Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Active Listening
Equipment Selection
Repairing
Judgment and Decision Making

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.06% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,100–48,720 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-7042.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.06% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing