Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
Median pay: $46,570/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -2.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 5,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
• Monitor operation of cutting or slicing machines to detect malfunctions or to determine whether supplies need replenishment.
• Stack and sort cut material for packaging, further processing, or shipping, according to types and sizes of material.
What's the median pay for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The median pay for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $46,570 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Employment for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to change -2.3% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
About 5,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.