Overview
All Precision Metal Trades Workers
-
$1,149 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Saw Doctors
-
320 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
88% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
44 hours Average full-time
-
46 years Average age
-
1% female Gender Share
Saw Doctors repair, set and sharpen blades for circular, band and other saws.
Specialisations: Saw Sharpener.
You can work as a Saw Doctor without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in saw doctoring or sawmilling and processing is usually required.
Tasks
- Dismantles precision instruments, repairs and replaces defective parts, and reassembles articles using hand and power tools and specially designed machines.
- Makes blades for circular, band and other power saws and repairs, sets and sharpens blades for hand and power saws.
- May estimate costs and prepare quotes for repairs.
Prospects
The number of Saw Doctors stayed about the same over 5 years:
from 360 in 2011 to 320 in 2016.
Caution: These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Saw Doctors work in many parts of Australia. South Australia has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Other Services; and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (88%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 46 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (53%).
- Gender: 1% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You can work as a Saw Doctor without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in saw doctoring or sawmilling and processing is usually required.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Manufacturing and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Precision Metal Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Telecommunications
Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Sociology and anthropology
Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Medicine and dentistry
Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Stamina
Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Static strength
Lift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
Rate control
Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
-
Auditory attention
Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Leading and encouraging a team
Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-7041.00 - Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Pace of work set by equipment
Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Making repetitive motions
Spend time making repetitive motions.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Responsible for outcomes
Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-7041.00 - Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood.
All Precision Metal Trades Workers
-
$1,149 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Saw Doctors
-
320 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
88% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
44 hours Average full-time
-
46 years Average age
-
1% female Gender Share
Saw Doctors repair, set and sharpen blades for circular, band and other saws.
Specialisations: Saw Sharpener.
You can work as a Saw Doctor without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in saw doctoring or sawmilling and processing is usually required.
Tasks
- Dismantles precision instruments, repairs and replaces defective parts, and reassembles articles using hand and power tools and specially designed machines.
- Makes blades for circular, band and other power saws and repairs, sets and sharpens blades for hand and power saws.
- May estimate costs and prepare quotes for repairs.
The number of Saw Doctors stayed about the same over 5 years:
from 360 in 2011 to 320 in 2016.
Caution: These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Saw Doctors work in many parts of Australia. South Australia has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Other Services; and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (88%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 46 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (53%).
- Gender: 1% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You can work as a Saw Doctor without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in saw doctoring or sawmilling and processing is usually required.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Manufacturing and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.
Employers look for Precision Metal Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Telecommunications
Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Sociology and anthropology
Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Medicine and dentistry
Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Stamina
Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Static strength
Lift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
Rate control
Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
-
Auditory attention
Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Leading and encouraging a team
Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-7041.00 - Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Pace of work set by equipment
Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Making repetitive motions
Spend time making repetitive motions.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Responsible for outcomes
Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-7041.00 - Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood.