What You Need to Know About Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
Position Description Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate CNC equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
A Day in the Life of a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
- Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors’ instructions.
- Measure and mark stock for cuts.
- Pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends.
- Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
- Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
- Clear machine jams, using hand tools.
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Qualities of a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
When polled, Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Other Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender Job Titles
- Coping Machine Operator
- Shingle Cutter
- Circle Saw Operator
- Side Sawyer
- Trimming Machine Operator
What Kind of Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 54,800 jobs in the United States for Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 6,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender are Utah, Florida, and Iowa. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Montana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make between $20,670 and $45,410 a year.

Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Montana, Connecticut, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $29,460 |
Alaska | $35,430 |
Arizona | $30,510 |
Arkansas | $29,480 |
California | $32,350 |
Colorado | $34,920 |
Connecticut | $41,160 |
Florida | $28,660 |
Georgia | $27,320 |
Hawaii | $37,300 |
Idaho | $34,780 |
Illinois | $31,720 |
Indiana | $32,070 |
Iowa | $35,030 |
Kansas | $27,840 |
Kentucky | $25,840 |
Louisiana | $36,050 |
Maine | $35,300 |
Maryland | $31,630 |
Massachusetts | $37,170 |
Michigan | $35,360 |
Minnesota | $35,000 |
Mississippi | $29,720 |
Missouri | $27,600 |
Montana | $43,250 |
Nebraska | $30,640 |
Nevada | $29,310 |
New Hampshire | $34,120 |
New Jersey | $33,280 |
New Mexico | $31,130 |
New York | $33,970 |
North Carolina | $30,720 |
Ohio | $32,080 |
Oklahoma | $36,550 |
Oregon | $35,840 |
Pennsylvania | $32,550 |
Rhode Island | $29,970 |
South Carolina | $29,240 |
South Dakota | $31,560 |
Tennessee | $27,680 |
Texas | $25,530 |
Utah | $28,200 |
Vermont | $38,930 |
Virginia | $29,580 |
Washington | $38,280 |
West Virginia | $31,800 |
Wisconsin | $31,980 |
Wyoming | $31,940 |
What Tools do Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Computerized numerical control CNC software
- Automated inventory software
How do I Become a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
What kind of Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?

Who Employs Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender might also be interested in the following careers:
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
Career changers with experience as a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Furniture Finishers
- Team Assemblers
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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