Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

What you'd actually do

• Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
• Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
• Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
• Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
• Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
• Feed stock into cutting machines, onto conveyors, or under cutting blades, by threading, guiding, pushing, or turning handwheels.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 3.3% of cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

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• Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Quick questions

How much does a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tender make?

The median pay is $22.39 per hour — roughly $46,500 a year, with the real range running from about $17.27/hr (10th percentile) to $29.39/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tender?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tender actually do all day?

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material. Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines. Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.