A work handling apparatus includes a general-purpose tray holding unit which can move in the left and right direction while holding a general-purpose tray that accommodates works, a processing tray holding unit which is arranged adjacent to the rear side in the front and rear direction of the general-purpose tray holding unit and can move in the left and right direction while holding a processing tray for carrying works in and out of a processing area, and work transfer units which can move in the front and rear direction and the vertical direction so as to transfer works between the general-purpose tray and the processing tray. Thus, the general-purpose tray holding unit and the processing tray holding unit move in the Y direction within the XY plane, and the work transfer units move within the XZ plane, so that the work transfer operation can be increased in speed and the productivity is improved.