Woodworking Machine Operator

Description of job: Operate woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, sanders, planers, or nailing machines.

The wood products we use every day— furniture, kitchen cabinets, musical instruments, and more— are produced by highly skilled woodworkers. Woodworkers make wood products from lumber and synthetic wood materials. The modern woodworking trade is highly technical; while some continue to work with traditional methods in small workshops, most woodworkers use automated machinery, such as computerized numerical control —or CNC—machines, working in high-production assembly line facilities. Machine woodworkers set up the equipment, cut and shape wooden parts, and verify dimensions. They apply fasteners and adhesives and assemble the parts into finished units. To complete a piece, they install hardware, and fit products for glass, metal trims, electrical components, and stone. Finally, they sand, and apply finishes. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters make wood pieces, and design custom cabinets to customers’ specifications, then build and install them. Furniture finishers do the finishing work of staining, sealing, and top coating wooden products. They also refinish furniture, and may work with antiques to preserve and repair them. Workers may handle heavy materials and be exposed to noise and dust. Injuries occur at a higher rate than in many other jobs. Protective gear, including safety glasses, respirators, and hearing protection devices, are worn for many jobs. Most woodworkers work full time during regular business hours. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for woodworkers. Full proficiency may take several years of on-the-job training.

Related Careers: Cabinet Maker, Furniture Finishers, Planing Machine Operator, Woodworking Machine Operator, Boring Machine Operator, Knot Saw Operator, Lathe Operator, Machine Operator, Molder Operator, Router Operator, Sander, Sander Operator

Sources: Minnesota CAREERwise and CareerOneStop

Typical Job ActivitiesSkills & KnowledgeAve Wage/Job OutlookEducation & Training

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Operate woodworking equipment.
Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.

Typical Working Conditions

Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
Having face-to-face discussions.
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
Exposure to hazardous equipment.
The importance of being accurate or exact.
Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, or hard hats.
Working with a group or team.
Meeting strict deadlines.
Freedom to make decisions without supervision.

Tools & Technology used by Woodworking Machine Operators

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Woodworking Machine Operators

Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Maintaining Equipment—Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Woodworking Machine Operators

Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing—Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Building and Construction—Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Design—Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Wages Per Hour For Woodworking Machine Operators (MN)

Low

$17.08

Median

$20.34

High

$25.93

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Source: ONetOnline

Demand
This career is seeing average growth compared to other careers.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career requires at least a high school degree, and a few professionals attend some college. This career does not require a license, but certifications may help with advancement.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career: