# Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/woodworking-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-except-sawing
- SOC code: 51-7042.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $43,380 (10th percentile $32,110, 90th percentile $56,830)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.5%
- Openings a year: 5,300
- 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) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 75/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 73/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 70/100)
- Getting Information (importance 65/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 63/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 60/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 56/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 54/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 51/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 51/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Speaking, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Equipment Selection

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Production and Processing, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Building and Construction, Education and Training, Design, English Language, Administration and Management, Transportation

## Also called

Adzing and Boring Machine Operator, Artificial Log Machine Operator, Automatic Clipper, Automatic Nailing Machine Operator, Automatic Profile Shaper Operator, Balloon Sander, Band Nailer, Bander, Barker Operator, Barrel Builder

## 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

- [Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sawing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-wood): $42,770 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, 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
- [Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/milling-and-planing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $52,800 median pay
- [Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lathe-and-turning-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $50,620 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.