What do they do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Also known as:
Adjuster, Brake Operator, Brake Press Operator, Die Cutter, Die Setter, Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech), Fabrication Operator, Fabricator, Machine Operator, Machine Setter, Machining Associate, Press Brake Operator, Press Operator, Press Setup Operator, Punch Operator, Punch Press Operator, Saw Operator, Setup Operator, Setup Technician (Setup Tech), Shear Operator, Shearman, Sheet Metal Fabricator, Slitter Operator, Stamp Press Operator
No Data Available
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-12.9%
Change
Ranks #60 in job growth rate1,390Job Openings
Ranks #3 in net job growth
Colleges with the most graduates that become Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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- High school diploma equivalent (54%)
- Some college, no degree (19%)
- Less than high school diploma (17%)
- Associate's degree (7%)
- Bachelor's degree (3%)
- Master's degree (<1%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (<1%)
People in this career often have talent in:
- Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
People in this career often do these activities:
- Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
- Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.
- Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
- Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
- Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
- Operate cutting equipment.
- Record operational or production data.
- Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
- Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
- Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
- Inspect production equipment.
- Load materials into production equipment.
- Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
- Clean production equipment.
- Lubricate production equipment.
- Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
- Replace worn equipment components.
- Plan production or operational procedures or sequences.
- Clean work areas.
- Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
- Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.
- Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
- Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Operate forklifts or other loaders.
- Select production equipment according to product specifications.
- Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
- Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
- Weld metal components.
- Braze metal parts or components.
- Operate welding equipment.
- Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
This page includes data from:
Career data: O*NET 30.0 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
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