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Etchers and Engravers Salary in San Jose, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Etchers and Engravers in San Jose, CA have a median annual salary of $56,470, with 130 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $45,820 at the 10th percentile to $81,780 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$56,470

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$27.15

Employment

130

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$45,820
10th
$48,820
25th
$56,470
Median
$65,230
75th
$81,780
90th

Local compared with national

San Jose, CA

$56,470

Median annual · 2025

United States

$43,310

Median annual · 2025

The San Jose, CA median is 30.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $13,160).

Top skills

  1. 1.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.1
  2. 2.MonitoringImportance 3.1
  3. 3.Operations MonitoringImportance 3.1
  4. 4.Active ListeningImportance 3.0
  5. 5.SpeakingImportance 3.0
  6. 6.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.0
  7. 7.Operation and ControlImportance 3.0
  8. 8.Quality Control AnalysisImportance 3.0
  9. 9.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 2.9
  10. 10.Social PerceptivenessImportance 2.8
  11. 11.Time ManagementImportance 2.8
  12. 12.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 2.6

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing CAD/CAM engraving software
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Delcam ArtCAM Express
  • Gravograph GravoStyle
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Western Engravers Supply Vision EXPERT

Common tasks

  • Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
  • Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
  • 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.
  • Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel.
  • Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
  • Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
  • Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
  • Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Etchers and Engravers salary in other locations

Other occupations in San Jose, CA