Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
SOC: 51-7041 O*NET: 51-7041.00
Median Salary
$39,950
per year
Job Growth
📉 -0.6%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
4.8
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
What does a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$29,670
10th percentile
Early Career
$35,550
25th percentile
Median
$39,950
50th percentile
Experienced
$47,770
75th percentile
Top Earners
$56,560
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$29,670
25th
$35,550
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$39,950
Mean: $42,390
75th
$47,770
90th
$56,560
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $26,890 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $35,550 and $47,770
- •Salary spread is 30.6% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 43,140 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:45,000
Top Industries
Manufacturing85.4%
Wood Product Manufacturing74.8%
Sawmills and Wood Preservation37.9%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-0.6%
Annual Openings:4,800
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)45,000
Current
2034 (Projected)44,700
-0.6%
-300
Employment Change
-0.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 46 locations
California
2,500 jobs$45,5400.49x
North Carolina
2,290 jobs$36,0601.67x
Georgia
2,180 jobs$38,3701.60x
Alabama
2,160 jobs$37,5503.69x
Pennsylvania
2,060 jobs$40,9801.22x
Ohio
2,030 jobs$44,7101.31x
Oregon
2,000 jobs$49,6603.64x
Texas
1,970 jobs$36,5200.51x
Indiana
1,800 jobs$39,4702.01x
Virginia
1,730 jobs$35,7301.52x
Arkansas
1,680 jobs$36,1204.67x
Wisconsin
1,590 jobs$43,1901.95x
Michigan
1,590 jobs$39,9401.29x
Washington
1,580 jobs$48,8301.59x
Mississippi
1,430 jobs$35,6904.40x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operations Monitoring
100%
#2
Operation and Control
88%
#3
Quality Control Analysis
76%
#4
Monitoring
64%
#5
Critical Thinking
52%
#6
Troubleshooting
40%
Skills Overview
Operations Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Operation and Control
intermediate4.4
88%
Quality Control Analysis
intermediate3.8
76%
Monitoring
intermediate3.2
64%
Critical Thinking
basic2.6
52%
Troubleshooting
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Operation and Control
intermediateImportance88%
abilities
4.4/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
intermediateImportance76%
skills
3.8/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance64%
skills
3.2/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance52%
abilities
2.6/5.0
Troubleshooting
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic75%
5 shared skills
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing75%
5 shared skills
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas71%
5 shared skills
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders67%
5 shared skills
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders67%
5 shared skills
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic67%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Operation and Control
- ★Quality Control Analysis
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Adobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (15)Planning & Development (2)Operations & Execution (3)Training & Development (1)
1
Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution91% perform94%
5
Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution85% perform90%
7
Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Training & Development76% perform84%
10
Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Operations & Execution73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.30
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.29
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.17
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.16
Persistence
Very ImportantPersistence
Importance Level4.05
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.03
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.3
Dependability
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.2
Self-Control
4.2
Persistence
4.0
Integrity
4.0
Independence
4.0
Cooperation
3.9
Initiative
3.9
Concern for Others
3.9
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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