Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Explore safer careers (5)
Lower estimated automation risk
Why it fits
Machine operators often know failure patterns, guards, adjustments, and maintenance handoffs useful for repair work.
Why it fits
Experienced operators can move into crew coordination, setup oversight, safety checks, and output tracking.
Why it fits
Production-floor knowledge can support process studies, layout improvements, standard work, and efficiency projects.
Why it fits
Hands-on production and sampling experience can shift toward material tests, batch checks, and quality records.
Why it fits
Extends machine-setting experience into broader cutting and forming equipment with related safety and setup habits.
Occupation snapshot
What does this snowflake show?
What's this?
We rate jobs using four factors. These are:
- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions
These are some key things to think about when job hunting.
Risk & user votes
Calculated automation risk
Imminent Risk (81-100%): This occupation appears highly exposed to end-to-end replacement by AI, software, robotics, or other computer-controlled systems. Roles in this range often involve predictable, repeatable, or rules-based work with limited need for human judgement, trust, creativity, or adaptation to messy real-world conditions. This does not mean every job will disappear immediately, but it is a strong signal to consider safer alternatives or start building more resilient skills.
More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.
Human strengths important in this job
These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.
Decision-making and problem solving
Quite importantWhy this matters
Coaching and developing others
Quite importantWhy this matters
Consulting and advising others
Quite importantWhy this matters
What users think
Based on 17 votes
Our visitors have voted that it's probable this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 82% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?
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Pay & outlook
Wages
In 2024, the median annual wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $45,700 ($22 per hour).
The median annual wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was 7.7% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.
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Wages over time
Growth
The number of 'Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders' job openings is expected to decline 2.3% by 2034
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Total employment, and estimated job openings
Updated projections are due 09-2025.
Volume
As of 2024 there were 47,540 people employed as 'Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders' within the United States.
This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 3 thousand people are employed as 'Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders'.
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Job description
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
O*NET-SOC code: 51-9032.00
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