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 CNC equipment.
AI Impact Summary
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 40/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 81% of all analyzed occupations. Of 26 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
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SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
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AI-Augmentation Tools
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Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
26 tasks analyzed
Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines.
Examine finished workpieces for smoothness, shape, angle, depth-of-cut, or conformity to specifications and verify dimensions, visually and using hands, rules, calipers, templates, or gauges.
Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.
Monitor operation of machines and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications.
Examine raw woodstock for defects and to ensure conformity to size and other specification standards.
Adjust machine tables or cutting devices and set controls on machines to produce specified cuts or operations.
Install and adjust blades, cutterheads, boring-bits, or sanding-belts, using hand tools and rules.
Change alignment and adjustment of sanding, cutting, or boring machine guides to prevent defects in finished products, using hand tools.
Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders.
Feed stock through feed mechanisms or conveyors into planing, shaping, boring, mortising, or sanding machines to produce desired components.
Push or hold workpieces against, under, or through cutting, boring, or shaping mechanisms.
Select knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits, or belts, according to workpiece, machine functions, or product specifications.
Remove and replace worn parts, bits, belts, sandpaper, or shaping tools.
Secure woodstock against a guide or in a holding device, place woodstock on a conveyor, or dump woodstock in a hopper to feed woodstock into machines.
Inspect and mark completed workpieces and stack them on pallets, in boxes, or on conveyors so that they can be moved to the next workstation.
Inspect pulleys, drive belts, guards, or fences on machines to ensure that machines will operate safely.
Clean or maintain products, machines, or work areas.
Attach and adjust guides, stops, clamps, chucks, or feed mechanisms, using hand tools.
Trim wood parts according to specifications, using planes, chisels, or wood files or sanders.
Unclamp workpieces and remove them from machines.
Start machines and move levers to engage hydraulic lifts that press woodstocks into desired forms and disengage lifts after appropriate drying times.
Operate gluing machines to glue pieces of wood together, or to press and affix wood veneer to wood surfaces.
Set up, program, or control computer-aided design (CAD) or computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
Grease or oil woodworking machines.
Control hoists to remove parts or products from work stations.
Sharpen knives, bits, or other cutting or shaping tools.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 9% | |
| Examine finished workpieces for smoothness, shape, angle, depth-of-cut, or conformity to specifications and verify dimensions, visually and using hands, rules, calipers, templates, or gauges. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 6% | |
| Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor operation of machines and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 7% | |
| Examine raw woodstock for defects and to ensure conformity to size and other specification standards. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 4% | |
| Adjust machine tables or cutting devices and set controls on machines to produce specified cuts or operations. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Install and adjust blades, cutterheads, boring-bits, or sanding-belts, using hand tools and rules. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Change alignment and adjustment of sanding, cutting, or boring machine guides to prevent defects in finished products, using hand tools. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 5% | |
| Feed stock through feed mechanisms or conveyors into planing, shaping, boring, mortising, or sanding machines to produce desired components. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 6% | |
| Push or hold workpieces against, under, or through cutting, boring, or shaping mechanisms. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Select knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits, or belts, according to workpiece, machine functions, or product specifications. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 3% | |
| Remove and replace worn parts, bits, belts, sandpaper, or shaping tools. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Secure woodstock against a guide or in a holding device, place woodstock on a conveyor, or dump woodstock in a hopper to feed woodstock into machines. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Inspect and mark completed workpieces and stack them on pallets, in boxes, or on conveyors so that they can be moved to the next workstation. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Inspect pulleys, drive belts, guards, or fences on machines to ensure that machines will operate safely. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Clean or maintain products, machines, or work areas. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Attach and adjust guides, stops, clamps, chucks, or feed mechanisms, using hand tools. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Trim wood parts according to specifications, using planes, chisels, or wood files or sanders. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 3% | |
| Unclamp workpieces and remove them from machines. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Start machines and move levers to engage hydraulic lifts that press woodstocks into desired forms and disengage lifts after appropriate drying times. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Operate gluing machines to glue pieces of wood together, or to press and affix wood veneer to wood surfaces. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Set up, program, or control computer-aided design (CAD) or computer numerical control (CNC) machines. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Grease or oil woodworking machines. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Control hoists to remove parts or products from work stations. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Sharpen knives, bits, or other cutting or shaping tools. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 22.6%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$40,440
per year
Mean Wage
$42,290
per year
Employment
63K
workers
Wage Range
$30,920 - $54,340
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Alternate Career Paths
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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
43%Median salary: $45,190
Higher risk than 88% of other occupations
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
45%Median salary: $47,060
Higher risk than 90% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Equipment Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change