All About Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Example of Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator Job Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
List of Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator Job Duties
- Position guides, stops, holding blocks, or other fixtures to secure and direct workpieces, using hand tools and measuring devices.
- Select, clean, and install spacers, rubber sleeves, or cutters on arbors.
- Clean work area.
- Thread ends of metal coils from reels through slitters and secure ends on recoilers.
- Grind out burrs or sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, or polishing jacks.
- Hand-form, cut, or finish workpieces, using tools such as table saws, hand sledges, or anvils.
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Skills Needed to be a Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator
When polled, Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator Job Titles
- Metal Tube Cutter
- Slat Twister
- Key Cutter
- Cutter
- Plastic Press Operator
Job Opportunities for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
There were about 192,700 jobs for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 18,900 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Salary for a Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator
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.
How much do Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in each U.S. state?
| 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
What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
What work experience do I need to become a Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Operator?
Who Employs Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The table below shows the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
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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