25 of the Highest Paying Woodworking Jobs in 2023

The best Woodworking jobs can pay up to $147,500 per year.

High Paying Woodworking Jobs

• Mill Manager

  Salary range: $65,500-$147,500 per year

  The majority of Mill Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $65,500 (25th percentile) and $147,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Mill Manager job market in the United States is moderately active, with several companies hiring.

• Paper Machine Superintendent

  Salary range: $100,500-$135,000 per year

  The majority of Paper Machine Superintendent salaries across the United States currently range between $100,500 (25th percentile) and $135,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Paper Machine Superintendent job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Sawmill Supervisor

  Salary range: $73,500-$93,000 per year

  The majority of Sawmill Supervisor salaries across the United States currently range between $73,500 (25th percentile) and $93,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Sawmill Supervisor job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Finishing Manager

  Salary range: $63,500-$87,500 per year

  A finishing manager is responsible for managing a group of finishing contractors on a project or construction site. Your job duties include making sure the project is finished to customer satisfaction and ensuring all workers adhere to safety standards. You must be available to assist with any final tasks in need of completion. The qualifications for this career include an associate degree, although some employers may prefer a bachelor’s degree in business or operations management. You need strong communications skills and experience working in a production environment.

• Corrugator Supervisor

  Salary range: $67,500-$86,500 per year

  A corrugator supervisor works to oversee the production team members who use converting machines to create corrugated boards, panels, and related materials. In this career, your responsibilities include working to ensure that employees carry out operations according to specifications and that they work in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. You are responsible for assigning duties to employees and planning production to meet quotas and quality expectations. In addition to overseeing the daily operation, you may also be involved in hiring and training new employees.

• Model Builder

  Salary range: $39,500-$81,500 per year

  A model builder works in industries such as film or theatre and creates models for sets or attractions. As a model builder, your duties involve working with set designers and other artists to develop scale reproductions, architectural replicas, or props. These miniature representations are then used to assess and determine the design and implementation of the set or attraction. A career as a model builder typically requires at least a high school diploma or GED certificate, technical construction skills, and artistic ability. Some employers prefer a formal education in theatrical design, architecture, or a related field, as well as training in 3D drafting or modeling software. You may also pursue entry-level roles, such as summer internships in film production or at a theme park, to gain relevant experience and improve your job prospects. Additional qualifications include computer drafting skills, a creative approach to problem-solving, and the ability to follow artistic direction.

• Engineered Wood Designer

  Salary range: $40,500-$75,500 per year

  The responsibilities of an engineered wood designer include reading blueprints and completing design work such as trusses and joists, assigned by the architectural design manager. You also ensure designs are accurate, are up to code, and meet client standards. You create accurate price estimates/quotes for projects based on customer specifications, help train new employees as needed, and provide extra job-site support as required. Other duties include drafting Engineered Wood Product (EWP) placement layouts for final construction, presenting finished layouts to clients in a courteous way, and making alterations when requested.

• Model Technician

  Salary range: $50,000-$70,000 per year

  A model technician works for a dental equipment company and creates anatomical dental imitations. As a model technician, your responsibilities are to review the specifications of a patient’s teeth and mouth, design a replicate mold, and use this mold to fabricate dental prosthetic implants or other orthodontic devices. Your duties involve operating the machinery used to create dentures, crowns, bridges, and other dental appliances. Once these orthodontic devices are complete, they are sent to the dentist’s office and placed by the dentist or dental assistant.

• Belt Tender

  Salary range: $69,000-$69,500 per year

  The majority of Belt Tender salaries across the United States currently range between $69,000 (25th percentile) and $69,500 (75th percentile) annually. Most people working in this role make similar salaries regardless of skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Belt Tender job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Paper Mill Manager

  Salary range: $56,000-$59,000 per year

  The majority of Paper Mill Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $56,000 (25th percentile) and $59,000 (75th percentile) annually. Most people working in this role make similar salaries regardless of skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Paper Mill Manager job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Prototype Technician

  Salary range: $42,000-$57,500 per year

  A prototype technician is responsible for printing all the required parts to put together prototypes of a product. In this role, you play a crucial part in the manufacturing process, ensuring all prototypes meet requirements and working with a supervisor to keep the assembly area safe. Your other job duties include providing data to assist prototype personnel in problem-solving, following a design plan to assemble or fix small circuitry electronics, evaluating projects, and reporting issues to the engineering team. You also perform quality control to ensure a product works the way it should and writing reports on the results of testing. Product design and analytical skills are crucial for this career.

• Bench Carpenter

  Salary range: $40,000-$56,000 per year

  A bench carpenter operates woodworking technology to cut, shape, or surface lumbar and assemble parts for wood products. As a bench carpenter, your job duties may include drawing up detailed customer specifications, reviewing blueprints and work orders to determine operational methods, and programming computers to operate machinery. You may also repair or alter wooden furniture, such as cabinets or paneling. The career typically requires a high school diploma or GED certificate and experience through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program. Additional qualifications include strong mechanical skills and precision, attention to detail, and experience with woodworking machines such as power saws and jointers.

• Paper Sales Representative

  Salary range: $35,000-$54,000 per year

  A paper sales representative sells wholesale paper products and technical solutions to retail outlets, businesses, or other organizations. As a sales representative, your main duties and responsibilities are to identify leads and contact them to discuss your products. You make appointments and visit potential customers to present them with marketing material and literature about your products and negotiate contracts and prices with the customer. You also provide continuing service to existing customers, such as following up to ensure they are satisfied with your products.

• Woodworker

  Salary range: $36,000-$52,000 per year

  A woodworker is a skilled tradesman who creates products, like cabinets and other furniture, out of wood materials, veneers, and laminates. Woodworker duties include reading blueprints, architectural drawings, and schematics, and preparing machines for manufacturing. You also utilize a variety of woodworking equipment including saws, sanders, drills, and milling machines. Most importantly, you must ensure that your products meet the industry-specific requirements for safety. While many woodworkers have extensive experience with hand tools, the modern world of woodcraft has become highly specialized and increasingly technical.

• Lathe Operator

  Salary range: $39,500-$52,000 per year

  A lathe operator works with machinery to fabricate metal for the manufacturing industry. As a lathe operator, your duties include programming, monitoring, and operating a lathe machine to create new metal or plastic parts. A lathe operator typically needs a high school diploma or a GED certificate, as well as relevant work experience through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. Skills necessary for the career include strong math and mechanical aptitude, the ability to read blueprints, and knowledge of specialized computer software for controlling the lathe machine.

• Manual Lathe Operator

  Salary range: $38,000-$51,000 per year

  Manual lathe operators calibrate and operate a manual lathe machine or grinder, which is used to cut, sand, knurl, drill, face, and turn materials. As a manual lathe operator, you work with materials such as wood, metal, and glass. Before lathing, you read any blueprints or schematics, calculate the dimensions needed for the job, and inspect your workstation to ensure the machine and other equipment is in working order. You then set-up the machine and load the materials into it. When the equipment is in operation, you must pay careful attention to ensure that the tool settings remain within tolerances. When variations appear, you adjust the controls to correct for it.

• Wood Finisher

  Salary range: $34,000-$48,000 per year

  As a wood finisher, you sand, shape, and finish new wood or refinish and restore old or damaged wood. You can work in custom cabinetry, furniture manufacturing, custom flooring companies, and carpentry shops. Your main duties are to provide the finishing touches on a piece of carpentry. For example, if you work for a custom cabinet maker, you consult with the carpenter and client about what kind of look they want. They may want the cabinets finished with stain or paint, or they may want a different finishing process altogether. You then prepare the wood and brush, immerse or spray the finishing material, and add a top coat if necessary.

• CNC Router Operator

  Salary range: $36,000-$46,500 per year

  A CNC router operator uses a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router to cut various materials, like metal, plastic, and wood. Your duties as a CNC router operator are to arrange machine setup properly before beginning work, read blueprints as instructions for cutting, and operate the machine safely. Your responsibilities may also include attending safety and educational training meetings; cleaning, maintaining, and performing routine inspections on the router; and training apprentices how to use the equipment properly. A CNC router operator can work varied hours for lumber, sign, and other fabrication companies that work with cut materials.

• Pellet Mill Operator

  Salary range: $39,500-$46,000 per year

  The majority of Pellet Mill Operator salaries across the United States currently range between $39,500 (25th percentile) and $46,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Pellet Mill Operator job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Corrugator

  Salary range: $42,000-$45,500 per year

  There are several different types of corrugators, including machine operators, specialists, and technicians, who provide maintenance and repair services for the plant equipment. As a corrugator operator, your duties and responsibilities are to set up, calibrate, adjust, and troubleshoot a corrugating machine that is used to make stock packing material, such as cardboard boxes or plastic sheet materials. After you have prepared the machine, you feed the proper amount of board or other material into it, keeping a close eye for any imperfections in the finished product or issues with the process. Many operators also use forklifts to move finished products to other parts of the facility.

• Wood Pattern Maker

  Salary range: $34,000-$42,000 per year

  The majority of Wood Pattern Maker salaries across the United States currently range between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $42,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Wood Pattern Maker job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Saw Operator

  Salary range: $34,000-$40,500 per year

  A saw operator uses saws and a variety of machines to cut wood and other materials. As a saw operator, your job duties involve setting up and inspecting equipment, installing blades, measuring the length to cut to specifications, and operating the machines. You must have experience with all relevant tools, including position guides and holding blocks. This career requires familiarity with both automatic and manual saws. Additional qualifications include work experience with general machinery, woodworking skills, and good physical stamina. Although not an educational requirement for this job, many technical colleges offer associate degree programs in related fields.

• Band Saw Operator

  Salary range: $32,000-$40,000 per year

  As a band saw operator, you take a variety of materials and run it over the band saw table, following the appropriate process to cut the material into specified shapes. Your job duties include operating and maintaining the band saw through routine preventative maintenance. A band saw is a serrated blade wrapped around a conveyor belt, so you must inspect it regularly for broken wheels, missing teeth, and other defects. To be a band saw operator, you typically need a high school diploma or GED certificate and at least a year of experience. Additional qualifications include strong mechanical skills and precision to follow customer requirements, as well as the ability to spot problems with power tools and work quickly and effectively.

• Hand Sander

  Salary range: $34,000-$34,000 per year

  A hand sander is a carpentry specialist who uses specific tools to repair or smooth furniture and other wood products. Though your primary job duties in this career involve using sanding tools, you may also need to be adept at working with chisels, files, or steel wool. Some employers require previous manufacturing or carpentry experience. Other qualifications include completion of a sanding or carpentry apprenticeship. In addition to furniture, sanders with specialized skills may work on hardwood floors or wooden structures.

• Panel Saw Operator

  Salary range: $30,500-$33,000 per year

  A panel saw operator operates and maintains a panel saw, which is a machine used to cut wood and other materials used for manufacturing. Duties include selecting the appropriate tools for taking care of equipment and performing other carpentry tasks. A panel saw operator also chooses saw blades for each job and transports materials before and after cutting them. Some employers may ask operators to work a second or third shift if the current workload demands it—during these times, it is vital to check the equipment for damage from extended use.

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