Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Production

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.

Also called: Boring Machine Operator, Cabinet Maker, Knot Saw Operator, Lathe Operator, Machine Operator, Molder Operator

Median pay in Greater Boston
$48,330
$23.23/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
500
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−0.7%
120 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$38,560$45,570$48,330$51,070$58,250

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure10 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 12
  • Language-model AIOE 10
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 9

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and observed AI use is little or none. Software may help with programming and setting up computerized machines. Starting machines, making trial cuts, and checking wood and finished pieces by sight and touch still depend on a person. Employment in Massachusetts is projected to shrink slightly, so building new skills can help.

Likely to change

  • Programming and setting up CNC machines
  • Monitoring machine settings and readings

Still relies on people

  • Making trial cuts and adjusting machines
  • Checking wood and parts by sight and touch

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    Checking dimensions and fit and making wood parts carry over. The median pay is $59,120 with moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$10,790 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

    Measuring workpieces against templates and checking for defects carry over. The median pay is $63,770, and projected growth is 4.2%.

    Pay difference
    +$15,440 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Running production machines and following safe work habits carry over. This job has a median pay of $54,560 and projected growth of 3.4%.

    Pay difference
    +$6,230 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +3.4%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach