Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Career, Salary and Skills

Occupation description

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

National salary and employment

Top skills

Typical tasks

• Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
• Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
• Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
• Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
• Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.
• Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines.
• Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations.
• Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.

Technology

• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Automated inventory software
• Computerized numerical control CNC software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Operational databases
• SAP software
• Striker Systems SS-Punch

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in MI
  Median $46,120 · Employment 22,060
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in OH
  Median $45,230 · Employment 13,350
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in TX
  Median $42,720 · Employment 13,290
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Detroit, MI
  Median $50,460 · Employment 11,650
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in IN
  Median $46,980 · Employment 9,680
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in PA
  Median $47,860 · Employment 8,890
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in IL
  Median $48,990 · Employment 8,060
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in WI
  Median $49,270 · Employment 7,960
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in CA
  Median $48,450 · Employment 7,710
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in KY
  Median $45,760 · Employment 7,290
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, IL
  Median $50,770 · Employment 6,320
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in MN
  Median $49,770 · Employment 6,130

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