Production
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Also called: Bandmill Operator, Cut Off Saw Operator, Edgerman, Knot Saw Operator
US median pay
$42,770
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-1%
declining
Openings a year (US)
4,500
41,200 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
What they do day to day
- Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
- Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
- Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.
- Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
- Clear machine jams, using hand tools.
- Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Equipment Maintenance2.8/5
- Repairing2.6/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Mechanical3.2/5
- Public Safety and Security2.6/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
- Education and Training2.3/5
- English Language2.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma59%
- Less than high school22%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.