DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
51-7041 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Occupational Description:
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers. Workers who primarily program or operate CNC equipment are classified in ?Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Programmers? (51-9160).| Percentiles | |||||||||
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| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 670 | 86 | $18.49/hr | $0.46/hr | $12.93/hr | $15.70/hr | $18.34/hr | $21.68/hr | $24.28/hr |
| U S | 50,730 | 1,218 | $15.69/hr | $0.09/hr | $10.32/hr | $12.35/hr | $14.84/hr | $18.43/hr | $22.77/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 5,400 | $20.74/hr | -0.5% |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,070 | $17.94/hr | 0.0% |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,060 | $19.46/hr | 1.4% |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,730 | $20.65/hr | 0.6% |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 1,520 | $30.46/hr | 2.0% |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,180 | $22.18/hr | 0.2% |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 340 | $18.53/hr | 0.0% |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 220 | $15.15/hr | N/A |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 100 | $20.25/hr | 1.1% |
| Tire Builders | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | N/A | $17.50/hr | 0.8% |
Tasks for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
- Selects knives to achieve specified diameter of cut, or installs bit and dado saw according to work ticket.
- Aligns and bolts knives in cutterhead and screws it on spindle, using wrenches.
- Adjusts angle of table by turning handwheel, and bolts or clamps holding jigs to table.
- Places stock in jig and pushes table containing stock into saw or lays stock on conveyor that carries it into machine.
- Pulls table back against stops and depresses pedal to advance cutterhead that shapes end of stock.
- Operates and tends saws and machines to cut stock and to adjust machine speed and tension, moving levers and handwheels.
- Guides workpiece against saw or saw over workpiece or operates automatic feeding device to guide cuts.
- Operates panelboard of saw and conveyor system to cut stock to specified dimensions and to move stock through process.
- Trims defects from stock or workpiece to straighten rough edges of lumber, using circular power saw.
- Turns knobs, handwheels, setscrews, and panel controls, or uses hand tools to position and adjust cutting stops and guides.
- Adjusts saw blades by turning handwheels, pressing pedals, levers, and panel buttons, or using wrenches and rulers.
- Observes approaching lumber on conveyor to determine cut that will produce highest grade.
- Determines sawing blade, type and grade of stock needed, and cutting procedures, according to work order or supervisor's instructions.
- Mounts and bolts sawing blade or attachments to machine shaft and turns handwheels to set blade tension.
- Positions and clamps stock on table, conveyor, or carriage, using hoists, guides, stops, dogs, wedges, and wrench.
- Moves machine table to specified angle and height by turning handwheels, cranks, or knobs.
- Measures workpiece to mark for cuts and to verify accuracy of cuts, using ruler, square, or caliper rule.
- Clears machine jams, using hand tools.
- Unclamps and removes finished workpiece from table.
- Sharpens blades or replaces defective or worn blades and bands, using hand tools.
- Inspects stock for imperfections and estimates grade or quality of stock or workpiece.
- Lubricates and cleans machines, using wrench, grease gun, and solvents.
- Unloads and rolls logs from truck to sawmill deck or to carriage or moves logs in pond, using pike pole.
- Counts, sorts, and stacks finished workpieces and disposes of waste material.
