Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Overview

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders has a national median salary of $46,570 per year, with -0.9% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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

Work Values

• Support
• Independence
• Relationships

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
• Maintain production records, such as quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
• Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
• Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
• Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.

Work Activities

• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Working with Computers
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Training and Teaching Others
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Detailed Work Activities

• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
• Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Video Resources