Woodworking machine operators
(NOC 94124)
Career Overview
Woodworking machine operators:
- Set up, program and operate one or more woodworking machines to make or repair wooden parts for furniture, fixtures or other wood products
- Work in furniture, fixture and other wood products manufacturing establishments
Job Titles
Adzing and boring machine operator
Automatic nailing machine operator - woodworking
Automatic shaper operator - woodworking
Banding machine tender - woodworking
Band resaw operator - woodworking
Band ripsaw operator - woodworking
Band-sawing machine tender - woodworking
Band saw operator - woodworking
Band saw tender - woodworking
Band scroll saw operator - woodworking
Barrel assembler
Barrel cooper - woodworking
Barrel end machine tender - woodworking
Barrel end sawyer
Barrel heading sawyer
Basket machine operator - woodworking
Belt sander operator - woodworking
Belt sander - woodworking
Bench machine operator - woodworking
Billiard cue maker
Borer - woodworking
Boring machine operator - woodworking
Bowl blank boring and finishing machine operator
Box blank repairer - woodworking
Briar-bowl turner - woodworking
Bucket chucker - woodworking
Bucket lathe operator
Carver operator - woodworking
Carving machine operator - woodworking
Cask maker
Chair leveler - woodworking
Chair seat planer tender
Chucking and boring machine operator - woodworking
Chucking machine operator - woodworking
Circular saw operator - woodworking
Clamping machine tender - woodworking
Clean-up sander - woodworking
Cleat notcher - woodworking
Cold press tender - woodworking
Computerized panel saw tender
Computerized panel saw tender - woodworking
Computer numerically controlled (CNC) band saw operator
Computer numerically controlled (CNC) woodworking machine tool operator
Contour sander operator - woodworking
Cooperage heading machine operator - woodworking
Cooperage heading sawyer
Cooperage setter-up - woodworking
Cooperage set-up man/woman - woodworking
Cooper header operator - wood
Cooper header - woodworking
Cooper operator - woodworking
Cooper's head-saw operator - woodworking
Copy lathe tender
Corrugated fastener driver - woodworking
Crosscut saw operator - woodworking
Croze machine operator - woodworking
Custom cue maker and repairer
Custom cue maker and repairman/woman
Cut-off saw operator - woodworking
Cylinder-sander feeder - woodworking
Cylinder saw tender - woodworking
Dado operator - woodworking
Dado saw operator - woodworking
Defect trimmer - woodworking
Desk sander - woodworking
Detail shaper - woodworking
Dimension planer operator - woodworking
Disk cutter - wood products
Door-hang machine operator - woodworking
Dovetail machine operator - woodworking
Dowelling machine operator - woodworking
Dowelling machine set-up operator - woodworking
Dowelling machine tender - woodworking
Dowel machine operator - woodworking
Dowel machine set-up operator - woodworking
Dowel machine tender
Dowel-making machine operator - woodworking
Dowel-making machine set-up operator - woodworking
Dowel-making machine tender - woodworking
Dowel pointer - woodworking
Drill operator - woodworking
Drill press operator - woodworking
Drum sander operator - woodworking
Drum sander - woodworking
Edge bander operator - woodworking
Edge bander - woodworking
Electronic gluing machine tender - woodworking
Embosser - woodworking
Embossing machine operator - woodworking
Embossing machine tender - woodworking
End bore operator - woodworking
End-boring machine operator - woodworking
End trimming and boring machine operator - woodworking
Equalizer operator - woodworking
Facer operator - woodworking
Fastener-driver operator - woodworking
Finish planer operator - woodworking
Fluting machine operator - woodworking
Frame table operator - woodworking
Frazer - woodworking
Frazing machine operator - woodworking
Gang ripsaw operator - woodworking
Gang sawyer - woodworking
Glue-bonding machine operator - woodworking
Glue-bonding machine tender - woodworking
Glue jointer operator - woodworking
Glue machine operator - woodworking
Glue machine tender - woodworking
Groover operator - woodworking
Groover - woodworking
Grooving machine operator - woodworking
Gunstock checkerer
Gunstock fitter - woodworking
Gunstock shaper - woodworking
Hat block maker - woodworking
Hole saw tender - woodworking
Hoop-driver operator - woodworking
Hoop-driving machine operator - woodworking
Horizontal boring machine operator - woodworking
Horizontal resaw operator - woodworking
Hot press tender - woodworking
Hydraulic press tender - woodworking
Jigsaw operator - woodworking
Jointer operator - woodworking
Jointer - woodworking
Jointing machine operator - woodworking
Lacrosse stick bender - woodworking
Lacrosse stick gouger - woodworking
Lacrosse stick maker - woodworking
Lacrosse stick planer - woodworking
Lacrosse stick shaper - woodworking
Lag bolt machine tender - woodworking
Laminated bowl machine tender - woodworking
Laminating press tender - woodworking
Last-lathe tender - woodworking
Last remodeler - woodworking
Last repairman/woman - woodworking
Last trimmer - woodworking
Last turner - woodworking
Lathe operator - woodworking
Lathe sander - woodworking
Lathe turner - woodworking
Lay-out marker - woodworking
Leveller operator - woodworking
Line and frame pole worker - wood products
Looping machine tender - wood products manufacturing
Machine carver - woodworking
Machine jointer, panels - woodworking
Machine panel jointer - woodworking
Machine sander - woodworking
Mitre saw tender - woodworking
Mortiser operator - woodworking
Mortising machine operator - woodworking
Moulder operator - woodworking
Moulder - wood products manufacturing
Moulder - woodworking
Moulding cutter - wood products manufacturing
Moulding machine operator - woodworking
Nailing machine operator - woodworking
Notcher operator - woodworking
Notching saw operator - woodworking
Oar maker - woodworking
Oar shaper - woodworking
Overhead dado operator - woodworking
Packing trunk panel finisher - woodworking
Paddle maker - woodworking
Panel jointer machine tender - woodworking
Panel raiser operator - woodworking
Panel saw operator - woodworking
Pencil-grooving machine tender
Pencil-rounding machine tender
Pin maker - wood products manufacturing
Planer feeder - woodworking
Planer operator - woodworking
Planer tender - woodworking
Planer - woodworking
Plastic laminator - wood furniture manufacturing
Pole framer - wood products
Portable machine sander tender - woodworking
Portable sawer - woodworking
Power saw operator - woodworking
Profile shaper operator - woodworking
Radial-arm saw operator - woodworking
Resaw operator - woodworking
Rip and groove machine tender - woodworking
Ripsaw grader-operator - woodworking
Ripsaw matcher - woodworking
Ripsaw operator - woodworking
Rolling pin maker - woodworking
Rough mill operator - woodworking
Rough planer operator - woodworking
Router operator - woodworking
Saddle machine tender - woodworking
Salvage sawyer - woodworking
Sanding machine feeder - woodworking
Sash and door end matcher - woodworking
Sawing machine operator - woodworking
Sawing machine tender - woodworking
Saw operator - woodworking
Sawyer - woodworking
Scroll saw operator - woodworking
Shaper operator - woodworking
Shaper - wood products manufacturing
Shaper - woodworking
Shaver operator - woodworking
Shaver tender - woodworking
Shredder operator - woodworking
Shuttle finisher - woodworking
Shuttle maker - woodworking
Shuttle planer - woodworking
Shuttle shaper and tip inserter - woodworking
Slat picker - woodworking
Slat slicer - wood products
Small arms checkerer
Smoking pipe air hole driller
Smoking pipe burler - woodworking
Smoking pipe maker - woodworking
Smoking pipe sander
Smoking pipe sander - woodworking
Spindle carver operator - woodworking
Splitter - woodworking
Splitting machine operator cork
Squeezer tender - woodworking
Stave jointer - woodworking
Stave machine operator - woodworking
Stave sawyer - woodworking
Stitcher operator - woodworking
Stock cutter - woodworking
Stummel trimmer - woodworking
Stummel turner - woodworking
Surface planer operator - woodworking
Swing-type lathe operator - woodworking
Table top edger - woodworking
Table top laminator - woodworking
Tenoner operator - woodworking
Toothpick-chopping machine tender
Toothpick lathe operator
Treadle saw operator - woodworking
Trimmer operator - woodworking
Trimming and boring machine operator - woodworking
Trimming machine operator - woodworking
Trim saw operator - woodworking
Trunk panel finisher - woodworking
Turner - woodworking
Turning machine operator - woodworking
Turning sander tender - woodworking
Variety saw operator - woodworking
Veneer sander - woodworking
Vertical resaw operator - woodworking
Wobble saw operator - woodworking
Wood blank sawyer
Wood-carving machine operator
Wood driller - woodworking
Wooden barrel-header fitter - woodworking
Wooden barrel header - woodworking
Wooden stave turner - woodworking
Wood lathe turner - woodworking
Wood products flarer
Wood products machine tender
Wood sander - woodworking
Wood saw operator - woodworking
Woodsawyer - woodworking
Wood turner - woodworking
Wood turning lathe operator - woodworking
Wood-turning lathe operator - woodworking
Woodworking machine operator
Woodworking machine setter
Woodworking machine set-up operator
Duties
Woodworking machine operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set up, program and operate one or more computer numerically controlled (CNC) or manual woodworking machines such as saws, moulders, lathes, routers, planers, edgers, pressing machines, shapers, drills and sanders to fabricate or repair wooden parts for furniture, fixtures and other wood products
- Run gluing machines to glue pieces of wood together or press and stick wood veneer to wood surfaces
- Run preset special-purpose woodworking machines to make wood products such as coat hangers, mop handles, clothes pins and other products
- Read and interpret specifications or follow verbal instructions
- May clean and lubricate equipment, and replace parts as necessary
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
705% Employed Full Time
68%
Source: 2021 Census
Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in an indoor plant environment
- Workers may be exposed to harmful chemicals
- Working with machinery, equipment and hand/power tools may be a source of injury
- Workers may be exposed to flying particles such as wood chips and sawdust in the work environment
- Workers may be exposed to noise that could impair hearing
- The workplace may contain toxic or strong odours
Career Pathways
Movement is common among jobs in this group.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Some secondary school education is usually required
- On-the-job training is usually provided
- Experience as a labourer in the same company may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Academic/Basic Upgrading
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Time Management
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
705
Source: 2021 Census
Employment by Region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 45 | 6.4% |
| Kootenay | 35 | 5.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 385 | 55.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 2.9% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 135 | 19.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 75 | 10.7% |
Source: 2021 Census
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
190
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | -0.9% |
| Kootenay | 0 | -0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 140 | 0.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | -1.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | -1.0% |
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 140 |
| Construction | 20 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 10 |
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
Resources
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BC Building Tradeswww.bcbuildingtrades.org
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British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA)www.bccassn.com
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Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia (CHBA BC)chbabc.org
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Canadian Wood Council (CWC)www.cwc.ca
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Naturally:woodwww.naturallywood.com
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Trades Training BC – Jobs Boardjobs.tradestrainingbc.ca/
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Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC)www.wmc-cfb.ca/
Recent Jobs
Explore recent job postings.
CNC (computer numerically controlled) woodworking machine tool operator
Epic Industries
Kamloops
April 02, 2025