← Back to Careers
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Production · SOC 51-7042
0.0% AI Exposure — Low
$43,380
Median Annual Salary
Average
O*NET Outlook
11,100
Proj. Annual Openings
61,420
Employment (OEWS 2025)
100/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure0.0%
AI Resiliency100/100
Exposure BandLow
Sector Avg. Exposure0.8%
Top Skills
1.Operations Monitoring
2.Operation and Control
3.Quality Control Analysis
4.Monitoring
5.Speaking
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
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.
Common titles: Boring Machine Operator, Cabinet Maker, Knot Saw Operator, Lathe Operator, Machine Operator, Molder Operator
Representative Tasks
- •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.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Operate woodworking equipment.
- •Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- •Conduct test runs of production equipment.
- •Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
- •Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
Tools & Technologies
Adobe Creative Cloud software · hotAdobe Illustrator · hotAdobe Photoshop · hotApple macOS · hotAutodesk AutoCAD · hotMicrosoft Excel · hotMicrosoft Windows · hotComputer aided design and drafting CADD softwareDassault Systemes CATIAVero Software ALPHACAM
Related Occupations
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodCutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersGrinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticMilling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
0.5%
Avg AI Exposure
1
Bright Outlook
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Outlook | Average | 4% Bright |
| Median Salary | $43,380 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |