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Skilled Trades

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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

Median salary (BLS)

$46,570

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$36k – $61k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $35,930

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Established

    $46,570

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Senior

    $53,845

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.