Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers

Wood machinists and other wood trades workers operate industrial and semi-industrial machinery to process, shape, and finish timber and wood-based materials in manufacturing, joinery, and carpentry settings. They set up and adjust machinery such as planers, sanders, saws, and lathes, monitor production output for quality and safety, and perform finishing work on wood products for residential, commercial, or industrial applications. These workers may specialise in areas not covered by more specific wood trades classifications, such as marquetry, wood turning, or timber milling.

Operate industrial woodworking machinery including planers, multi-blade saws, sanders, mortisers, and edge-banding equipment according to technical specifications and safe work method statements. Set up and adjust machinery parameters such as blade height, feed speed, cutting depth, and pressure rollers to achieve required tolerances and finishes. Load and position timber and manufactured board materials (MDF, plywood, particle board) onto machine beds and feed mechanisms, securing work pieces with clamps or jigs. Monitor machinery operation during production runs, observing for abnormal vibration, noise, or output quality issues and stopping machines if safety concerns arise. Inspect finished timber components for dimensional accuracy using tape measures, calipers, and gauges against drawings and specifications. Sand timber surfaces using hand-held sanders or stationary sanding machines to achieve specified surface finishes and prepare for staining or sealing. Apply finishes such as stains, varnishes, and polyurethane coatings to timber products using spray equipment, brushes, or pad applicators, following product technical data sheets. Perform routine maintenance tasks including cleaning machines, replacing worn cutters and saw blades, lubricating moving parts, and checking alignment and calibration.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll face real physical wear: repetitive strain from hand-sanding and machine operation, constant noise exposure even with ear protection, and dust inhalation risk from timber and MDF despite safety gear. Pay tops out quickly in this role. Most positions are in factories with shift work including early starts and weekend penalties as your main income boost, not base rate growth.

Most roles are factory-based with no remote work. Timber manufacturing remains tied to industrial areas near ports and major cities rather than regional centres.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3942, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goods Receipt Processing
• Process Documentation
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Stock Counting and Stocktake
• Supplier Communication
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026