Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Career Profile
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
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What Do Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 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
How Many Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Are There?
There are about 244,993 cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.9% over the projection horizon.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Pay
| 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 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| 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
Pay for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 work in 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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions 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
Typical cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
About the Data
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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