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Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Job Description
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
The Daily Work of Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do?
The core tasks performed by cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders span:
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
- Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
- Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
- Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
- Feed stock into cutting machines, onto conveyors, or under cutting blades, by threading, guiding, pushing, or turning handwheels.
- Monitor operation of cutting or slicing machines to detect malfunctions or to determine whether supplies need replenishment.
- Stack and sort cut material for packaging, further processing, or shipping, according to types and sizes of material.
What Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Need to Know
Top cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Abrasive Sawyer
- Almond Cutting Machine Tender
- Angle Shearer
- Apple Peeler Operator
- Applique Cutter
- Arch Cushion Skiving Machine Operator
- Automatic Glass Cutting Machine Operator
- Automatic Outsole Cutter
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 244,993 cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +14.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,095 |
| Hourly median | $31.78 |
| 10th percentile | $46,166 |
| 25th percentile | $56,131 |
| 75th percentile | $76,059 |
| 90th percentile | $86,023 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $56,430 |
| Illinois | $52,360 |
| Iowa | $52,310 |
| New Hampshire | $52,270 |
| Colorado | $51,140 |
| Wisconsin | $50,750 |
| Missouri | $50,270 |
| Maine | $49,000 |
| Oregon | $48,860 |
| Washington | $48,270 |
| Nevada | $48,000 |
| Mississippi | $47,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,580 |
| Idaho | $47,280 |
| North Dakota | $47,050 |
| New York | $46,850 |
| Nebraska | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,620 |
| South Carolina | $46,450 |
| Kentucky | $46,210 |
| New Jersey | $45,990 |
| Montana | $45,910 |
| Arkansas | $45,830 |
| Indiana | $45,540 |
| Arizona | $45,320 |
| Ohio | $45,280 |
| Utah | $44,830 |
| Michigan | $44,310 |
| California | $44,230 |
| Virginia | $44,080 |
| Vermont | $43,720 |
| Tennessee | $43,720 |
| Maryland | $43,690 |
| South Dakota | $43,570 |
| North Carolina | $43,140 |
| Connecticut | $41,950 |
| Florida | $41,870 |
| Massachusetts | $41,570 |
| Texas | $40,620 |
| Rhode Island | $40,230 |
| Louisiana | $40,060 |
| Georgia | $39,730 |
| Alaska | $39,350 |
| Alabama | $37,450 |
| West Virginia | $37,440 |
| Oklahoma | $36,150 |
| New Mexico | $32,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,860 |
Where Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Earn the Most
Earnings for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $50,634 | 11.1% | 1.74 |
| Rocky Mountains | $47,763 | 3.1% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $47,173 | 20.5% | 1.80 |
| Middle Atlantic | $46,708 | 11.0% | 0.79 |
| Far Western US | $45,699 | 12.7% | 0.84 |
| Southeast | $43,165 | 26.6% | 1.34 |
| New England | $43,049 | 4.5% | 1.12 |
| Southwest | $40,249 | 10.2% | 0.84 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | IA | $65,560 | 240 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $60,480 | 620 |
| Ames, IA | IA | $59,540 | 70 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $58,090 | 30 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $56,650 | 40 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | ME | $56,070 | 100 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | PA | $55,950 | 130 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $55,550 | 1,070 |
Which Industries Hire Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Most cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 39,910 | $46,150 |
| Wholesale Trade | 3,070 | $43,730 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,390 | $38,460 |
| Construction | 1,230 | $48,880 |
| Retail Trade | 860 | $42,100 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 360 | $38,650 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 240 | $47,200 |
| Information | 70 | $35,670 |
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:
Software Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How to Become Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Most cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Tool and Die Makers (Supplemental)
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (Supplemental)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders).
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