In a work machine including a controller (500) configured to calculate respective target velocities of a hydraulic cylinder (5) for moving a plurality of work point candidates (8a and 8b) set to a work device along an optionally set target surface (60) on the basis of positional data of the target surface, posture data of the work device (15), and operation data of an operation lever (1), and control the velocity of the hydraulic cylinder (5) according to one of a plurality of the calculated target velocities, the controller calculates a candidate point velocity (VTab or VTba) occurring in a case where each of the plurality of work point candidates is moved at the corresponding target velocity (VTa or VTb) and occurring at a remaining work point candidate, selects a velocity at which an entry into the target surface is least likely from among the plurality of candidate point velocities, and controls the hydraulic cylinder according to the target velocity of the work point candidate associated with the selected candidate point velocity.