Despite the abundance of plastics, metals, and other materials, wood products continue to be an important part of our daily lives. Many of these products are mass produced, including most furniture, kitchen cabinets, and musical instruments. Other products are custom-crafted in shops using specialized tools. The people who design, produce, and test these products are called  woodworkers these people earn a 

or they enjoy the fun of building Although the term woodworker may evoke the image of a craftsman who builds ornate furniture using hand tools, the modern Woodworking trade is highly technical and relies on advanced equipment and highly-skilled operators. Workers use automated machinery, such as computerized numerical control machines to do much of the work. Even specialized artisans generally use a variety of power tools in their work. Much of the work is often done in a high production assembly line facility, but there is also some work that is customized and does not lend itself to assembly line fabrication. Woodworkers are employed in every part of the secondary wood products industry earning a woodworkers income from sawmill to finished product—and their activities vary greatly.

Woodworkers set up, operate and tend all types of machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood-nailing machines. Operators set up the equipment, cut and shape wooden parts, and verify dimensions using a template, caliper, or rule. After wood parts are made, woodworkers add fasteners and adhesives and connect the pieces to form a complete unit. Products are then sanded, stained, and, if necessary, coated with a sealer, such as a lacquer or varnish.

In some cases, these tasks are managed by different workers with specialized training. For instance, woodworking  machine setters, operators, and tenders may specialize in operating specific pieces of woodworking machinery. Furniture finishers stain and seal wood products; they often work with antiques and must make judgments about how to best preserve and repair them.