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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

General Information

Description

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

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Overall employment of metal and plastic machine workers is projected to decline 5 percent from 2021 to 2031. Despite decliningemployment, about 101,700 openings for metal and plastic machine workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of metal and plastic machine workers is projected to decline 5 percent from 2021 to 2031. Despite decliningemployment, about 101,700 openings for metal and plastic machine workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Similar Careers

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Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$37,630

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$47,370
$18,230
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 67%
  • Post-secondary certificate 16%
  • Less than high school 8%
  • Some college 7%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Mechanical
  • Production and Processing
  • Mathematics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • English Language

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.