Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Job Description
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Perform?
The core tasks performed by cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic span:
- Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
- Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
- Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
- Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
- Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
- Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.
- Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines.
- Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adjuster
- Angle Shear Operator
- Angle Shear Setup Operator
- Arbor Press Operator
- Automatic Punch Press Operator
- Automatic Screwmaker
- Automobile Bumper Straightener
- Bander Operator
Job Outlook
There are about 285,971 cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +9.9% over the projection horizon.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,166 |
| Hourly median | $14.98 |
| 10th percentile | $20,883 |
| 25th percentile | $26,024 |
| 75th percentile | $36,308 |
| 90th percentile | $41,449 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | $53,460 |
| Oregon | $51,810 |
| Minnesota | $50,960 |
| Maine | $50,180 |
| Washington | $49,590 |
| Wisconsin | $48,730 |
| Colorado | $48,680 |
| Montana | $48,290 |
| Maryland | $48,210 |
| Kentucky | $48,170 |
| Iowa | $47,850 |
| Nebraska | $47,680 |
| Alaska | $47,600 |
| New Hampshire | $47,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,510 |
| Missouri | $47,310 |
| New Jersey | $47,170 |
| California | $47,100 |
| Connecticut | $46,680 |
| Arizona | $46,490 |
| Michigan | $46,470 |
| North Dakota | $46,050 |
| Virginia | $45,850 |
| Massachusetts | $45,780 |
| Illinois | $45,700 |
| Nevada | $45,430 |
| Indiana | $45,400 |
| New York | $45,130 |
| Arkansas | $45,020 |
| Utah | $44,940 |
| Rhode Island | $44,780 |
| Oklahoma | $44,140 |
| Wyoming | $44,090 |
| Tennessee | $44,080 |
| South Dakota | $44,050 |
| Ohio | $43,920 |
| Vermont | $43,630 |
| Georgia | $43,630 |
| Louisiana | $43,580 |
| Kansas | $42,680 |
| South Carolina | $42,390 |
| North Carolina | $42,330 |
| Texas | $41,620 |
| New Mexico | $39,630 |
| Mississippi | $39,570 |
| Alabama | $39,460 |
| Delaware | $39,170 |
| Idaho | $38,860 |
| Florida | $37,660 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,470 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $48,138 | 8.7% | 1.33 |
| Far Western US | $47,898 | 6.3% | 0.39 |
| Middle Atlantic | $46,717 | 8.1% | 0.82 |
| New England | $46,270 | 3.9% | 0.86 |
| Great Lakes | $45,923 | 37.5% | 3.08 |
| Rocky Mountains | $45,748 | 2.1% | 0.55 |
| Southeast | $43,344 | 24.2% | 1.62 |
| Southwest | $42,315 | 9.1% | 0.80 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | MI | $74,080 | 450 |
| Fayetteville, NC | NC | $67,180 | 80 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | ME | $62,760 | 60 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $61,930 | 2,950 |
| Rome, GA | GA | $61,670 | 240 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | WI | $60,340 | 570 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $58,590 | 450 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | PA | $58,450 | 780 |
Which Industries Hire Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The largest employers of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 154,400 | $45,810 |
| Wholesale Trade | 11,340 | $46,420 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 6,590 | $36,060 |
| Construction | 800 | $47,520 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 330 | $46,410 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 320 | $39,200 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 190 | $42,730 |
| Information | 190 | $41,170 |
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic work in the following industries:
Software Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (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, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How to Become Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Typical cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- 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-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic commonly pursue programs in:
Precision Production
2 programs across 1 majors
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: 51-4031.00 (Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.