Wood Shaping Machine Operator Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Wood Shaping Machine Operator

Best Schools to become a Wood Shaping Machine Operator in U.S. 2024

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, MN

In-State Tuition:$5,341
Out-of-State Tuition:$5,341
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:33%
Total Enrollment:3,974

Lee College

Baytown, TX

In-State Tuition:$3,132
Out-of-State Tuition:$3,552
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:40%
Total Enrollment:7,807

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA

In-State Tuition:$1,288
Out-of-State Tuition:$10,584
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:17,655

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Oklahoma City, OK

In-State Tuition:$N/A
Out-of-State Tuition:$N/A
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:60%
Total Enrollment:2,559

Red Rocks Community College

Lakewood, CO

In-State Tuition:$3,744
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,408
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:39%
Total Enrollment:6,470

Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI

In-State Tuition:$56,435
Out-of-State Tuition:$56,435
Admission Rate:17%
Graduation Rate:91%
Total Enrollment:2,620
Wood Shaping Machine Operator Job Description:
  • 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.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Wood Shaping Machine Operator

Job Duties for Wood Shaping Machine Operators

  • 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.

  • Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines.

  • Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.

Technologies and Skills Used by Wood Shaping Machine Operators

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA

Operating system software

  • Apple macOS
  • Microsoft Windows

Video creation and editing software

  • YouTube

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Talking to others

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Wood Shaping Machine Operator

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Wood Shaping Machine Operator

FAQs About Becoming a Wood Shaping Machine Operator