Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Explore safer careers (5)
Lower estimated automation risk
Why it fits
Uses machining fundamentals, materials, precision measurement, tooling, and setup judgment with broader training.
Why it fits
Directly expands press and cutting setup skills to multiple cutting or forming machine tools.
Why it fits
Automated press and cutting experience supports CNC operation with control and setup training.
Why it fits
Reuses tolerances, part defects, measurement tools, production standards, and quality records.
Why it fits
Machine setup, workholding, cutting tools, measurements, and tolerance discipline transfer with lathe training.
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
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 84% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 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, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $45,590 ($22 per hour).
The median annual wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was 7.9% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.
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Wages over time
Growth
The number of 'Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic' job openings is expected to decline 12.1% by 2034
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Total employment, and estimated job openings
Updated projections are due 09-2025.
Volume
As of 2024 there were 174,430 people employed as 'Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic' within the United States.
This represents around 0.11% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 883 people are employed as 'Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic'.
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Job description
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
O*NET-SOC code: 51-4031.00
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