Machine operators and related workers in pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing

How to become a wood processing machine operator

Official title: Other wood processing machine operators

Also called: Barker operator, Chipper operator, Wood flour miller, Lumber kiln operator, Veneer lathe operator, Wood treater operator, Plywood press operator, Excelsior machine tender, Waferboard press operator, Wood particle dryer tender, Particleboard line operator, Edge gluer - wood processing

Other wood processing machine operators operate 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 are employed in sawmills, woodrooms of pulp mills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing plants.

Main tasks

Operate and tend various wood processing equipment and machines to remove bark, knots and dirt from logs; reduce logs or sawmill waste into wood chips or flakes; stack and band lumber; screen wood chips; and produce waferboards, particleboards, hardboards and insulation boards
Operate and tend conveyors, lathes, sanding machines and other equipment to peel and slice veneer from logs and log sections, and to glue, press, trim, sand and splice veneer sheets
Operate and tend kilns, treating tanks and other equipment to dry lumber and other wood products, and to treat chemically and impregnate wood products with preservatives
Observe equipment, panel indicators, video monitors, and other instruments to detect malfunctions and ensure that processes are operating according to specifications
Assemble plywood panels and repair plywood and veneer mechanically or manually
Start up, shut down, set up, adjust and assist in maintaining processing equipment and machines as required
Complete and maintain production reports

How to become one

Completion of secondary school is usually required. Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided. For lumber kiln operators, particleboard operators and waferboard operators, some combination of college or company courses and up to one year of on-the-job training may be required. Previous experience as a labourer in wood processing may be required.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $50,154 a year The middle half earn $36,075 to $58,500.
About 4,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 4,300 are projected by 2033. (+2.4%)
Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Questions people ask

How do I become a wood processing machine operator?

How much does a wood processing machine operator earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $50,154 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $36,075 to $58,500.

Is a wood processing machine operator a growing career in Canada?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2033, from about 4,200 to about 4,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a wood processing machine operator?

Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03