What do they do?

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

Also known as:

Computer Numerical Control Operator (CNC Operator), Converting Operator, Cutter, Cutter Operator, Cutting Machine Operator, Cutting Pressman, Die Cutter Operator, Flat Cutter, Leather Cutter, Machine Operator, Paper Cutter, Rotary Operator, Saw Operator, Sheeter, Sheeter Operator, Skiver Operator, Slitter, Slitter Operator, Threshing Operator, Trimmer, Trimmer Operator

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to Decline 3 percent from 2020 to 2030

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • -3.8%

    Change

    Ranks #51 in job growth rate
    270

    Job Openings

    Ranks #6 in net job growth

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (5%)
  • Associate's degree  (3%)
  • Some college, no degree  (16%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (45%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (30%)

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
  • Weigh finished products.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Conduct test runs of production equipment.
  • Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
  • Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.
  • Stack finished items for further processing or shipment.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
  • Position raw materials on processing or production equipment.
  • Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
  • Enter commands, instructions, or specifications into equipment.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Direct operational or production activities.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Clean materials to prepare them for production.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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