Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production
Completed pieces come off the saw, shear, punch, or press and get measured with micrometers, calipers, gauges, templates, or rulers. Chipped edges and marred surfaces are sorted by the type of flaw. Before that, work orders or production schedules set the material, cut lines, dimensions, and tolerances; controls are turned for cutting speed, feed rate, or table angle, and workpieces, plastic, or chemical solutions are loaded in. Machines are watched while they run, speeds and actions are tested with gauges and hand tools, and operational data is written down. Suits people who like setting a press by hand, checking every piece, and sorting defects by type.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$46'330
Median Wage Market Position
$46'330
What you might do
- Cut, punch, shear, or bend metal and plastic
- Load metal, plastic, or solutions into machines
- Set cutting speeds, feeds, and table angles
- Measure completed pieces with gauges or calipers
- Sort defective parts by the type of flaw
- Read schedules for cuts, sizes, and materials
Skills that matter
- Measuring cuts with micrometers and calipers
- Sorting defective pieces by type of flaw
- Setting shear speeds and table angles
- Watching punch and press cycles as they run
- Diagnosing drift in punch or shear action
- Discussing press setups with other workers
AI & the future of this role
Repetitive cutting and punching sequences could move further into programmed presses with less manual oversight. Changeovers, fixture work, and spotting defects before scrap mounts remain practical skills that hold employment steadier than pure button-pushing.
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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