Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Career, Salary and Skills
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $46,570 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 44,980. Wage data is published for 218 locations.
Occupation description
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
O*NET code
51-9032.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$46,570
Hourly median
$22.39
Employment
44,980
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Operation and Control | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Active Listening | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Maintain production records, such as quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
- Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
- Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
- Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
- Adjust machine controls to alter position, alignment, speed, or pressure.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
- Remove completed materials or products from cutting or slicing machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
- Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in TXMedian $42,210 · Employment 3,650
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in NCMedian $43,770 · Employment 3,100
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in CAMedian $46,110 · Employment 3,080
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in OHMedian $48,400 · Employment 3,000
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in INMedian $46,150 · Employment 2,110
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in NYMedian $49,680 · Employment 1,870
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in ILMedian $49,740 · Employment 1,770
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in PAMedian $46,850 · Employment 1,630
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $44,360 · Employment 1,500
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in New York, NYMedian $48,990 · Employment 1,490
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $44,870 · Employment 1,460
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in FLMedian $40,540 · Employment 1,370
Related careers
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $48,540
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersNational median $46,350
- Tool and Die MakersNational median $64,050
- Shoe Machine Operators and TendersNational median $35,650
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $45,760
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $50,620
- Machine Feeders and OffbearersNational median $41,220
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNational median $50,060
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.