Sawmill Machine Operators

(NOC 9431)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Sawmill machine operators use, monitor and control automated lumbermill equipment to saw timber logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes. They work in sawmills and planing mills.

Job Outlook

Limited

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

  • Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$20.15

Median

$27.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$12,465

Minimum

$31,089

Median

$50,375

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Sawmill machine operators use, monitor and control automated lumbermill equipment to saw timber logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes. They work in sawmills and planing mills.

Job duties

Sawmill machine operators:

  • Use front-end loaders and stationary deck cranes to feed logs into the sawmill.
  • Examine logs and rough lumber to determine size, condition, quality and other characteristics to decide best lumber cuts to carry out or use automated equipment to convey logs through laser scanners which decide the most productive and profitable cutting patterns.
  • Use lumbermill equipment from control rooms or equipment consoles to saw logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes.
  • Start conveyor system to move logs and lumber to and from saws.
  • Set up and adjust saw equipment and replace blades or bands using wrenches, gauges and other hand tools.
  • Use equipment to sort and stack lumber by length and thickness, move stacks to storage areas or drying kilns, and feed lumber through planers.
  • Monitor movement of lumber and computer screens to make sure cuts are made according to specifications, and print production reports.
  • Clean and lubricate sawmill equipment.

Sample job titles

  • circular saw operator - sawmill
  • edger - sawmill
  • head-saw operator - sawmill
  • planer - sawmill
  • saw operator - sawmill
  • splitter - sawmill
  • trimming machine operator - sawmill

Skills

  • You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and mechanical ability are important. You must be able to follow directions and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • College courses in wood processing technology may be required.
  • Several weeks of on-the-job training are usually provided.
  • A certificate in industrial first aid may be required.

Other considerations

  • These are largely rural jobs, and self-employment is not common. There is some movement among jobs in this group and movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience. Head sawyers and planer operators usually require several years of experience in other sawmill machine operating positions in the same company.

By the numbers

Quick look

210

employed in 2016

95.1%

employed full-time

12.2%

self employed

7.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
92.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.9

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
72.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

39.0%

North Shore

$39,218 median annual income
31.7%

Southern

$27,661 median annual income
17.1%

Annapolis Valley

$27,235 median annual income
7.3%

Cape Breton

N/A
4.9%

Halifax

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

83.3%

Manufacturing

5.6%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

5.6%

Utilities

5.6%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

21.0%

35-44

21.0%

45-54

21.0%

55-64

17.0%

25-34

12.0%

15-24

7.0%

65+

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

38.1%

High school

$29,919 median annual income
28.6%

Less than high school

$33,010 median annual income
16.7%

College Diploma

N/A
9.5%

Trade Certification

N/A
4.8%

Doctorate

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income
23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income
19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income
12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income
4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Forestry Safety Society of Nova Scotia
Truro, NS
Forest Products Association of Canada
Ottawa, ON
Maritime Lumber Bureau
Amherst, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.