Etchers and Engravers: Career Overview
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
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What Tasks Do Etchers and Engravers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of etchers and engravers cover:
- Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
- Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
- Clean and polish engraved areas.
Skills and Knowledge
Top etchers and engravers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Acid Etch Operator
- Award Machine Operator
- Block Engraver
- Bowling Ball Engraver
- Chemical Engraver
- Cold Etch Operator
- Decorative Engraver
- Die Cutter
Job Outlook
There are roughly 862,700 etchers and engravers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +14.7% over the projection horizon.
Etchers and Engravers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $28,903 |
| Hourly median | $13.90 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $23,260 |
| 75th percentile | $34,546 |
| 90th percentile | $40,188 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $68,030 |
| Rhode Island | $59,690 |
| Washington | $57,520 |
| Maryland | $52,000 |
| New Jersey | $50,530 |
| Illinois | $47,720 |
| Tennessee | $46,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,890 |
| Connecticut | $44,860 |
| Minnesota | $44,260 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 |
| Massachusetts | $43,870 |
| New Hampshire | $43,720 |
| California | $42,800 |
| Indiana | $42,790 |
| Michigan | $42,320 |
| Wisconsin | $42,070 |
| Iowa | $41,600 |
| Colorado | $41,140 |
| Florida | $39,870 |
| Montana | $39,520 |
| South Carolina | $39,520 |
| Utah | $39,190 |
| Georgia | $38,860 |
| Oregon | $38,800 |
| New York | $38,750 |
| Alabama | $38,710 |
| Kentucky | $38,710 |
| North Carolina | $38,350 |
| Maine | $38,320 |
| Virginia | $37,820 |
| Oklahoma | $37,180 |
| Ohio | $36,880 |
| Arkansas | $36,680 |
| Idaho | $36,620 |
| Texas | $35,680 |
| Arizona | $35,330 |
| Missouri | $35,180 |
| Nebraska | $34,580 |
| Mississippi | $32,360 |
| Kansas | $24,540 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for etchers and engravers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $45,325 | 9.4% | 2.06 |
| Middle Atlantic | $43,278 | 10.7% | 0.88 |
| Far Western US | $43,198 | 13.4% | 0.92 |
| Great Lakes | $42,827 | 24.0% | 2.03 |
| Plains States | $40,209 | 6.6% | 1.50 |
| Southeast | $39,847 | 15.3% | 0.93 |
| Rocky Mountains | $39,479 | 2.9% | 0.82 |
| Southwest | $35,710 | 17.8% | 1.43 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $62,120 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $59,010 | 90 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $52,000 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $48,570 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $47,750 | 80 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $47,320 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | TN | $47,320 | 60 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | TN | $46,630 | 30 |
Which Industries Hire Etchers and Engravers
Most etchers and engravers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,480 | $42,400 |
| Retail Trade | 3,060 | $36,610 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 430 | $46,730 |
| Wholesale Trade | 180 | $47,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 100 | $37,210 |
Etchers and Engravers work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of etchers and engravers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Time Pressure
Education and Training
Most etchers and engravers 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.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Tool and Die Makers (Primary-Short)
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring etchers and engravers often complete programs in:
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
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: 51-9194.00 (Etchers and Engravers).
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