Sawmill Machine Operators
Job description
These individuals operate, monitor, and control sawmill equipment. They cut, saw, and split lumber and shingles. They are employed in sawmills and processing plants.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Nontoxic dust
- Noise
- Falling objects
Main tasks
- Operate loaders and cranes that feed logs into sawmills.
- Determine dimensions, condition, and quality of logs and rough lumber.
- Start up conveyors, adjust sawing equipment, and replace saw blades or bands.
- Sort and stack lumber according to length and thickness.
- Carry wood piles.
- Monitor the movement of lumber and ensure that the wood is cut as required.
- Prepare production reports.
- Clean and lubricate sawmill equipment.
Advancement and mobility
- There is some mobility between jobs in this group.
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $19.00
- Median
- $26.50
- Maximum
- $30.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
2,000
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 4.9% Female
- 95.1% Male
Not available.
- 4.9% Female
- 95.1% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$46,400
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 32179% of jobs
-
NAICS 233% of jobs
-
NAICS 113, 11532% of jobs
-
NAICS 3272% of jobs
-
NAICS 3372% of jobs
-
Others12% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 32179% of jobs
-
NAICS 233% of jobs
-
NAICS 113, 11532% of jobs
-
NAICS 3272% of jobs
-
NAICS 3372% of jobs
-
Others12% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in opération d'équipements de production
Code : 5362
Placement rate: 80.4%
13.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
- Certificate in workplace first aid may be required.
- Several years of experience in the same company are usually required for Head Sawyers and Planer Operators.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Operations and control
- Monitoring operations
- Quality control analysis
- Troubleshooting
- Result evaluation
- Critical thought
Abilities
- Control accuracy
- Manual dexterity
- Hand-arm stability
- Near vision
- Speed control
- Digital dexterity
- Awareness of issues
- Reaction time
- Selective attention
- Limb coordination
- Endurance
- Core strength
- Static muscle power
- Depth perception
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Distance vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Capacity to work in a team
- Knowledge of production and treatment
- Sense of initiative
- Assiduity and punctuality
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Tolerance to routine work
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
- Develop and exploit natural resources
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
Official name of the NOC 94120
Sawmill machine operators
Job titles
- Sawmill Equipment Operators
- Sawmill machine operator
- Head-saw operator - sawmill
- Sawyer - sawmill
- Saw operator - sawmill
- Automatic edger operator - sawmill
- Head sawyer
- Shingle cutter
- Shingle maker
- Shake maker
- Trimmerman/woman
- Splitter - sawmill
- Machine splitter - sawmill
- Block splitter - sawmill
- Chip reclaim operator - sawmill
- Sawdust reclaim operator - sawmill
- Trimmer operator - sawmill
- Log haul cut-off saw operator - sawmill
- Canter operator - sawmill
- Chip-n-saw operator - sawmill
- Transfer operator - sawmill
- Resaw operator
- Lumber sizer operator - sawmill
- Edger - sawmill
- Tilt-hoist operator - sawmill
- Trimming machine operator - sawmill
- Splitter operator - sawmill
- Sawing machine operator - sawmill
- Planer mill machine operator
- Log hoist operator - sawmill
- Planer operator - sawmill
- Log cut-off operator
- Stave bolt saw operator
- High-speed stud operator - sawmill
- Scrag-saw operator - sawmill
- Slab saw operator
- Drag saw operator - sawmill
- Log gang saw operator - sawmill
- Circular saw operator
- Cut-off saw operator - sawmill
- Jumbo operator - sawmill
- Trim saw operator - sawmill
- Slasher operator - sawmill
- Slasher trim operator - sawmill
- Trimmer tender - sawmill
- Edgerman/woman
- Bolterman/woman - sawmill
- Planer - sawmill
- Log cut-off sawyer - sawmill
- Timber cut-off sawyer - sawmill
- Shingle sawyer
- Stave bolt sawyer - sawmill
- Bolt sawyer - sawmill
- Shake sawyer
- Board sawyer - sawmill
- Resawyer - sawmill
- Trim sawyer - sawmill
- Gang sawyer - sawmill
- Log gang sawyer - sawmill
- Shake splitter
Skill type
Manufacturing and utilities
Last update: January 29, 2026
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