# Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

> Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.

- **SOC code:** 51-7041.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-7041-00
- **Also known as:** Resaw Operator, Rip Saw Operator, Saw Operator, Sawyer, Bandmill Operator, Cut Off Saw Operator, Edgerman, Knot Saw Operator
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
- Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
- Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
- Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.
- 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.
- Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
- Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
- Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws.
- Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
- Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.
- Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces.
- Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Control Precision _(ability)_
- Arm-Hand Steadiness _(ability)_
- Manual Dexterity _(ability)_
- Near Vision _(ability)_
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Finger Dexterity _(ability)_
- Rate Control _(ability)_
- Reaction Time _(ability)_
- Production and Processing _(knowledge)_
- Mechanical _(knowledge)_
- Operations Monitoring _(transferable_skill)_
- Operation and Control _(transferable_skill)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Finger Dexterity _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Word _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Excel _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Depth Perception _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Adobe Acrobat _(Specialized Skill)_
- Visualization _(Specialized Skill)_
- Time Management _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Adobe Acrobat _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology)_
- Automated inventory software
- Computerized numerical control CNC software

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 17th percentile (Low) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 12th percentile (Low) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 16th percentile (Low) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 33rd percentile (Low) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 72nd percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** -0.6% growth (Declining); 4.8k annual openings; 45k → 44.7k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $39,950; 43,140 employed.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-7041-00_