Overview

A sawmill operator is responsible for daily production, quality control, safety, and daily operation of a sawmill and management of its employees.

What responsibilities will I have?

• Operate sawmill to saw logs into rough sawn lumber and dimensional lumber
• Install and maintain all sawmill/planer machinery and equipment
• Utilize woodworking tools like hand-held router, table saw, band saw, miter saw, sander, etc. when necessary
• Train machine operators and employees of the sawmill
• Perform preventative maintenance of mill including repair planning
• Operate a loader and/or forklift to lift and load logs, cants, and boards onto trailers
• Ensure quality assurance of lumber product output
• Stack and palletize materials
• Grade lumber
• Maintain safe operations by adhering to safety procedures and regulations and utilizing safety equipment
• Troubleshoot equipment that is not functioning properly
• Clean and organize sawmill regularly

What education and training is required?

A high school diploma is required to work as a sawmill operator. Training in sawmill maintenance or other millwright maintenance is preferred.

To pursue a career as a Sawmill Operator:

The following high school courses are recommended: agricultural education, natural resources, industrial technology, business and computer courses, and mathematics.

Typical Employers:

Sawmill operators work for lumber or timber companies and suppliers as well as lumber product manufacturers, often in forested areas.

Future Job Market/Outlook

The future outlook for a sawmill operator will be fair over the next five years. 

Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations

• National Hardwood Lumber Association
• Timber Products Manufacturers Association
• State and local timber, lumber, and forestry associations