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Wood pallet maker

Also called wooden pallet maker, pallet machine worker, pallet machine operator

Wood pallet makers create wood pallets for use in storage, shipping and manipulation of goods. Pallet makers operate a machine that takes in usually low-grade softwood planks treated with heat or chemicals and nails them together. The material and shape of the pallets, the treatment methods, and the number and pattern of nails used are all highly standardised to make exchange of used pallets possible.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 11 countries now. 15 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Woodworking machine tool setters and operators · ILO

What you'd do

Woodworking machine tool setters and operators · ILO
  • Setting-up, programming, operating and monitoring several types of woodworking machines for sawing, shaping, boring, drilling, planing, pressing, turning, sanding or carving to fabricate or repair wooden parts for furniture, fixtures and other wooden products
  • Operating preset special-purpose woodworking machines to fabricate wooden products such as coat hangers, mop handles, clothes pins and other products
  • Selecting knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits or belts according to work piece, machine functions and product specifications
  • Installing and adjusting blades, cutter heads, boring-bits and sanding-belts, and using hand tools and rules
  • Setting and adjusting various kinds of woodworking machines for operation by others
  • Reading and interpreting specifications or following verbal instructions
Set up the controller of a machineDispose of cutting waste materialSupply machineWork safely with machinesOperate forklift+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

11 EU countries are short of woodworking machine tool setters and operators now, but fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers in the EU
4.07m3.96m3.58m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
910,000 replacing leavers 332,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers15
All jobs29
Right now
11 of 27 countries report a shortage of woodworking machine tool setters and operators, 5 a surplus.
Woodworking machine tool setters and operators · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (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 craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) is the usual route.

Highest qualification of food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 11%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 26%
Fields that teach it
Materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) · Fine arts
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.22 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Reading and interpreting specifications or following verbal instructions0.54
Setting and adjusting various kinds of woodworking machines for operation by others0.17
Selecting knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits or belts according to work piece, machine functions and product specifications0.15
Setting-up, programming, operating and monitoring several types of woodworking machines for sawing, shaping, boring, drilling, planing, pressing, turning, sanding or carving to fabricate or repair wooden parts for furniture, fixtures and other wooden products0.15
Installing and adjusting blades, cutter heads, boring-bits and sanding-belts, and using hand tools and rules0.15
Operating preset special-purpose woodworking machines to fabricate wooden products such as coat hangers, mop handles, clothes pins and other products0.14

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 woodworking machine tool setters and operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).