What You Need to Know About Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
Occupation Description Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
A Day in the Life of a Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator
- Clean work area.
- Place workpieces on cutting tables, manually or using hoists, cranes, or sledges.
- Plan sequences of operations, applying knowledge of physical properties of workpiece materials.
- Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
- Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
- Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
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Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator Needed Skills
These are the skills Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Gasket Maker
- Sintering Press Operator
- Square Cutter
- Metal Stamping Machine Operator
- Die Setter
Job Demand for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 192,700 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 18,900 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator are Utah, North Dakota, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Colorado, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator Salary
The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $23,440 and $52,270.
Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Wyoming, Minnesota, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $32,580 |
| Alaska | $38,340 |
| Arizona | $36,540 |
| Arkansas | $35,690 |
| California | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $37,820 |
| Connecticut | $38,250 |
| Delaware | $33,990 |
| Florida | $31,860 |
| Georgia | $31,460 |
| Idaho | $30,910 |
| Illinois | $36,340 |
| Indiana | $33,940 |
| Iowa | $36,060 |
| Kansas | $33,680 |
| Kentucky | $40,270 |
| Louisiana | $37,840 |
| Maine | $39,000 |
| Maryland | $42,770 |
| Massachusetts | $41,090 |
| Michigan | $37,940 |
| Minnesota | $43,200 |
| Mississippi | $32,210 |
| Missouri | $36,920 |
| Montana | $37,050 |
| Nebraska | $37,360 |
| Nevada | $32,360 |
| New Hampshire | $36,850 |
| New Jersey | $34,850 |
| New Mexico | $29,760 |
| New York | $40,240 |
| North Carolina | $31,620 |
| North Dakota | $35,640 |
| Ohio | $35,590 |
| Oklahoma | $34,490 |
| Oregon | $38,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,360 |
| Rhode Island | $32,810 |
| South Carolina | $35,690 |
| South Dakota | $36,660 |
| Tennessee | $33,420 |
| Texas | $32,650 |
| Utah | $35,910 |
| Vermont | $36,360 |
| Virginia | $36,610 |
| Washington | $44,670 |
| West Virginia | $36,520 |
| Wisconsin | $38,970 |
| Wyoming | $43,330 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- SAP
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computerized numerical control CNC software
- Automated inventory software
Becoming a Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator
Are there Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator?
Where do Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work?
Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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