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Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $46,570 Median per year · $22.39/hr Most earn $35,930–$61,120

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
  • Sharpen cutting blades, knives, or saws, using files, bench grinders, or honing stones.
  • Wash stones, using water hoses.
  • Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.
  • Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
  • Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.

Job outlook

United States
1% fewer jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 5,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing20.9%
  • Converted paper product manufacturing19.1%
  • Printing and related support activities8.6%
  • Plastics product manufacturing5.9%
  • Animal slaughtering and processing5.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the machines on the job, usually within about 3 to 6 months of related work experience.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build reading, math, and basic measuring skills, which you use to read specs and check cut sizes.

  2. Entry-level production worker

    3-6 months

    Work on a factory or plant floor helping run and clean machines, which teaches you safety rules and how production lines work before you run equipment yourself.

  3. Cutting and Slicing Machine Operator

    Ongoing

    Set up, run, and monitor machines that cut or slice materials such as glass, stone, rubber, paper, or food, checking that each cut meets specifications.

Where it can lead

  1. Cutting Machine Setter

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from running machines to setting them up, adjusting blades, settings, and tooling for new jobs; this related role is Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Metal and Plastic.

  2. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead a small team, schedule work, and track output and quality, which usually takes strong machine knowledge plus some leadership and communication skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, technology, or industrial arts classesHands-on work with tools and machines gives you a feel for how equipment operates and why safety matters.
  • Take math classes, especially measurement and geometryReading dimensions and checking that cuts are exact is a daily part of this job.
  • Look for a part-time or summer job at a factory or plantEven a short job helps you learn workplace routines and shows employers you can be dependable.
  • Join a career or technical student clubGroups like these often offer skills practice, teamwork, and contact with local employers.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyUnderstanding lockout habits, protective gear, and reporting hazards prepares you for machine work.

In college

  • Take courses in manufacturing, industrial technology, or basic machine operationThese classes teach how production equipment works and how to set it up safely.
  • Get a part-time campus or off-campus job in a production or lab settingWorking around equipment and following procedures builds the habits employers look for.
  • Take a workplace safety courseSafety training such as OSHA-style courses is useful for any machine job and shows initiative.
  • Join a manufacturing or engineering student clubClubs connect you with local employers and often include hands-on projects with machines.
  • Seek a short internship or co-op at a manufacturerReal experience running or supporting cutting equipment helps you get hired and move up faster.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school or a local manufacturer about shop, safety, or manufacturing classes, since hands-on machine and safety knowledge helps you stand out for entry-level jobs.
  • Look for part-time or summer work at a factory, bakery, print shop, or packaging plant, where you can learn machine safety and teamwork early.
  • Be reliable and careful: attendance, following safety rules, and checking your own work matter a lot to employers hiring machine operators.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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