Edge bander operator
Also called edgebander setter, edgebander worker, edgebander tender
Edge bander operators tend machines that veneer materials, mostly wood, to increase durability and make them aesthetically pleasing. They also regulate the speed of the belt, set temperature control to regulate heat, brush glue on edges of panels and start and regulate the machine.
What you'd do
- Indoors
- On your feet most of the day
- Constant contact with people
- Good freedom to decide
- Often more than 40 hours a week
- Deadlines most weeks
- Some repetitive tasks
Will there be jobs?
Limited prospectsFewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
About averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among plant and machine operators, and assemblers in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Upper secondary or vocationalUpper secondary or vocational training in materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) is the usual route.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
The ILO does not score this exact group; the figure is the average of related groups.
Average task score 0.20 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully). Average of related groups (other stationary plant and machine operators).
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for other stationary plant and machine operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).