Other Wood Processing Machine Operators

(NOC 9434)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Other wood processing machine operators use and tend wood processing equipment and machines to remove bark from logs, produce wood chips, preserve and treat wood, and produce waferboards, particleboards, hardboards, insulation boards, plywood, veneers and similar wood products. They work for sawmills, woodrooms of pulp mills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing plants.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

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

$16.08

Minimum

$19.12

Median

$25.22

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$33,724

Median

N/A

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

Job duties

Machine operators in this group:

Use and tend wood processing equipment and machines.
Use and tend conveyors, lathes, sanding machines and other equipment.
Use and tend kilns, treating tanks and other equipment to dry lumber and other wood products, and to treat products with preservatives.
Watch equipment, panel indicators, video monitors, and other instruments to find errors and make sure that processes are operating as they should.
Assemble plywood panels and repair plywood and veneer mechanically or by hand.
Start up, shut down, set up, adjust and help in maintaining processing equipment and machines as needed.
Complete and maintain production reports.

Sample job titles

barker operator
chipper operator
lumber kiln operator
particleboard line operator
plywood panel assembler
timber treating tank operator
veneer dryer tender
veneer lathe operator
waferboard press operator
wood treater

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

Some high school is usually necessary.
Several months of on-the-job training are provided.
Lumber kiln operators, particleboard operators and waferboard operators, need some combination of college or company courses and up to one year of on-the-job training.
Experience as a labourer in wood processing may be necessary.

Other considerations

These are largely rural jobs, and self-employment is not common. There is some movement among jobs in this group. Movement to other positions in the wood, pulp and paper industries is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

130

employed in 2016

80.8%

employed full-time

7.7%

self employed

7.7%

92.3%

48.3

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%

72.4%

44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

30.8%

Southern

$57,451 median annual income

19.2%

North Shore

N/A

19.2%

Cape Breton

N/A

15.4%

Halifax

N/A

15.4%

Annapolis Valley

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

79.2%

Manufacturing

12.5%

Retail trade

8.3%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

What is the age of Employment?

30.0%

55-64

26.0%

35-44

15.0%

45-54

11.0%

15-24

11.0%

65+

7.0%

25-34

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

29.6%

College Diploma

$29,587 median annual income

25.9%

High school

$32,939 median annual income

22.2%

Less than high school

N/A

14.8%

Trade Certification

N/A

7.4%

Bachelor

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

admission@usainteanne.ca

Website

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Website

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Website

Machine Tool Technology/Machinist - Pre-apprenticeship College Program

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, manufacture, assemble, test, and repair parts, mechanisms, machines, and structures in which materials are cast, formed, shaped, moulded, heat treated, cut, twisted, pressed, fused, stamped or worked.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website