Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Production
Work orders, blueprints, or job samples tell you the settings and adjustments before you start a cutting or slicing machine. You examine, measure, and weigh stock with rulers, micrometers, or scales, then feed it into the machine, onto a conveyor, or under the blade. Buttons, levers, or pedals start the run; you watch for jams, bad cuts, or supplies that need replenishing, then stack and sort pieces by type and size for packing, further work, or shipping. Setups get a test run and a tweak if the cut is off. A fit for people who like tending machines, checking measurements, and keeping cut material moving.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$46'570
Median Wage Market Position
$46'570
What you might do
- Set up machines that cut glass, food, or paper
- Review blueprints and samples for machine settings
- Feed stock under blades or onto conveyors
- Run a test cut and tweak the settings
- Look for jams or machines that need more stock
- Stack and sort cut pieces by type and size
Skills that matter
- Setting up cutting and slicing machines
- Watching for malfunctions and empty supplies
- Measuring pieces with rulers and micrometers
- Reading work orders and blueprints
- Feeding stock under blades or conveyors
- Stacking cuts by type and size
AI & the future of this role
Routine cutting cycles and basic quality checks may increasingly run under smarter machine controls. Setup, changeovers, and tending unpredictable materials still rely on hands-on skill, so demand for operators is likely to ease only gradually.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details