# Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

> Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sawing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-wood
- SOC code: 51-7041.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $42,770 (10th percentile $30,890, 90th percentile $58,170)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, -1.0%
- Openings a year: 4,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 23 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 48 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 78/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 78/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 68/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 66/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 61/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 60/100)
- Getting Information (importance 60/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 57/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 57/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 54/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Equipment Maintenance, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Education and Training, English Language, Design, Engineering and Technology, Building and Construction, Psychology

## Also called

Automatic Bandsaw Tender, Automatic Edger, Automatic Log Cut-Off Sawyer, Backup Sawyer, Band Saw Operator, Band Saw Runner, Band Sawyer, Band Scroll Saw Operator, Bandmill Operator, Bandsaw Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Woodworking](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4807) (CIP 4807, 65 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Rhode Island School of Design RISD](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rhode-island-school-of-design-risd-2225) | Woodworking | not reported | $37,055 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/woodworking-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-except-sawing): $43,380 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Cutters and Trimmers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutters-and-trimmers-hand): $38,020 median pay
- [Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal): $46,550 median pay
- [Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-punching-and-press-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $46,330 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.