Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-7041.00
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.14
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only24 rated tasks · 3 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (12.5%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Examine blueprints, drawings, work orders, or patterns to determine equipment set-up or selection details, procedures to be used, or dimensions of final products.51-7041.00 | 0.0048100.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 23 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons. | —0 |
Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules. | —0 |
Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines. | —0 |
Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces. | —0 |
Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts. | —0 |
Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation. | —0 |
Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts. | —0 |
Sharpen blades or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools. | —0 |
Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents. | —0 |
Clear machine jams, using hand tools. | —0 |
Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts. | —0 |
Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions. | —0 |
Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions. | —0 |
Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools. | —0 |
Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces. | —0 |
Dispose of waste material after completing work assignments. | —0 |
Measure and mark stock for cuts. | —0 |
Pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends. | —0 |
Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws. | —0 |
Position and clamp stock on tables, conveyors, or carriages, using hoists, guides, stops, dogs, wedges, or wrenches. | —0 |
Cut grooves, bevels, or miters, saw curved or irregular designs, and sever or shape metals, according to specifications or work orders. | —0 |
Unclamp and remove finished workpieces from tables. | —0 |
Unload and roll logs from trucks to sawmill decks or to carriages or move logs in ponds, using pike poles. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.O*NET Task ID 12252 | 0.5 |
Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.O*NET Task ID 12254 | 0.5 |
Examine blueprints, drawings, work orders, or patterns to determine equipment set-up or selection details, procedures to be used, or dimensions of final products.O*NET Task ID 12267 | 0.5 |
Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.O*NET Task ID 12250 | 0.0 |
Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.O*NET Task ID 12251 | 0.0 |
Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.O*NET Task ID 12253 | 0.0 |
Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions.O*NET Task ID 12255 | 0.0 |
Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.O*NET Task ID 12256 | 0.0 |
Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.O*NET Task ID 12257 | 0.0 |
Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions.O*NET Task ID 12258 | 0.0 |
Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.O*NET Task ID 12259 | 0.0 |
Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 12260 | 0.0 |
Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 12261 | 0.0 |
Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces.O*NET Task ID 12262 | 0.0 |
Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.O*NET Task ID 12263 | 0.0 |
Clear machine jams, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 12264 | 0.0 |
Dispose of waste material after completing work assignments.O*NET Task ID 12265 | 0.0 |
Measure and mark stock for cuts.O*NET Task ID 12266 | 0.0 |
Pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends.O*NET Task ID 12268 | 0.0 |
Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws.O*NET Task ID 12269 | 0.0 |
Position and clamp stock on tables, conveyors, or carriages, using hoists, guides, stops, dogs, wedges, or wrenches.O*NET Task ID 12270 | 0.0 |
Cut grooves, bevels, or miters, saw curved or irregular designs, and sever or shape metals, according to specifications or work orders.O*NET Task ID 12271 | 0.0 |
Unclamp and remove finished workpieces from tables.O*NET Task ID 12272 | 0.0 |
Unload and roll logs from trucks to sawmill decks or to carriages, or move logs in ponds, using pike poles.O*NET Task ID 12273 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (22)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons. | Core |
| Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules. | Core |
| Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines. | Core |
| Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces. | Core |
| Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts. | Core |
| Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation. | Core |
| Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts. | Core |
| Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools. | Core |
| Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents. | Core |
| Clear machine jams, using hand tools. | Core |
| Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts. | Supplemental |
| Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions. | Supplemental |
| Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions. | Supplemental |
| Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces. | Supplemental |
| Dispose of waste material after completing work assignments. | Supplemental |
| Measure and mark stock for cuts. | Supplemental |
| Examine blueprints, drawings, work orders, or patterns to determine equipment set-up or selection details, procedures to be used, or dimensions of final products. | Supplemental |
| Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws. | Supplemental |
| Position and clamp stock on tables, conveyors, or carriages, using hoists, guides, stops, dogs, wedges, or wrenches. | Supplemental |
| Cut grooves, bevels, or miters, saw curved or irregular designs, and sever or shape metals, according to specifications or work orders. | Supplemental |
| Unclamp and remove finished workpieces from tables. | Supplemental |
0.94/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clear machine jams, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dispose of waste material after completing work assignments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and mark stock for cuts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position and clamp stock on tables, conveyors, or carriages, using hoists, guides, stops, dogs, wedges, or wrenches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Cut grooves, bevels, or miters, saw curved or irregular designs, and sever or shape metals, according to specifications or work orders. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Unclamp and remove finished workpieces from tables. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 41K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 41K
- Change (2025–35)
- -1%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $42,770
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89111 | 제재기 조작원 | Same scope | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8172Wood Processing Plant Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- band saw operatorESCO 8172.5.1This occupation is broader
Band saw operators work with industrial saws that feature a continuous flexible blade revolving around two or more wheels. Band saws are most effective at producing irregular shapes.
- table saw operatorESCO 8172.5.3This occupation is broader
Table saw operators work with industrial saws that cut with a rotating circular blade. The saw is built into a table. The operator sets the height of the saw to control the depth of the cut. Particular attention is paid to safety, as factors such as natural stresses within the wood may produce unpredictable forces.
- crosscut saw operatorESCO 8172.2Overlapping, not the same
Crosscut saw operators use a manual crosscut saw. Crosscut sawing is used for 'felling' and 'bucking' trees, or taking off the limbs to obtain logs. Crosscut sawyers may also work with smaller crosscut saws in a workshop to make manual cuts.
- sawmill operatorESCO 8172.5Overlapping, not the same
Sawmill operators work with automated lumber mill equipment which saws timber into rough lumber. They also handle various sawing machines which further process the lumber in various shapes and sizes. These processes are nowadays often computer controlled.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2211 | Opérateur / Opératrice de sciage bois | Same scope |
| H2205 | Opérateur / Opératrice de production en industrie du bois | Related, not a match |
| H2214 | Mérandier / Mérandière | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8144 | Operadores de serrerías, de máquinas de fabricación de tableros y de instalaciones afines para el tratamiento de la madera y el corcho | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 7812 | Ajustadores y operadores de máquinas para trabajar la madera | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 22322 | Berufe in der Produktion von Holzwerkstoffen und -bauteilen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 22301 | Berufe in der Holzbe- und -verarbeitung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 536 | 木・紙製品製造従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 506 | 木・紙製品生産設備制御・監視員 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources