Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
About the profession
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic fits your profile
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Jump to Learning Path →Video
Occupation on screen: Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (O*NET 51-9161.00). The Department of Labor publishes one film per occupation family, and this is the film it lists for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (51-4031.00), which is how Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is classified. Closed captions in English and Spanish. CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration)
Personality Fit
Based on the Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Enterprising
Leading, persuading, business
Artistic
Creative, expressive, original thinking
Social
Helping, teaching, working with people
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (4 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Trainee Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic → Technician Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic → Senior Technician Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic → Lead Technician Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
4
Levels
$60K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $32,640 - $39,433/year With equity/bonuses: $35,904 - $47,320 Top markets (SF/NYC): $37,536 - $47,320 Execute core tasks using Operations…
Skills used in this career
Click any skill to see how to learn it and what salary boost it gives
Day in Life
Junior vs Senior, daily schedule breakdown
9am, Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $22,848 - $35,490 Year 2-3: Junior level $39,433 - $43,914 Year 4-6: Mid level $43,914 - $47,612 Year 7-10: Senior level $47,612 - $55,669 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions, answer honestly
You find the craft of a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with…
💰 Salary Range
BLS OEWS, May 2023Half of U.S. workers in this occupation earn more than this, half earn less.
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types