Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC code 51-9032 · O*NET-SOC 51-9032.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$46,570
a year
Hourly
$22.39
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$47,460
$22.82 per hour
Middle 50%
$39,440 – $53,800
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$35,930 – $61,120
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
44,980
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $35,930
- $17.27/hr
- 25th percentile
- $39,440
- $18.96/hr
- Median percentile
- $46,570
- $22.39/hr
- 75th percentile
- $53,800
- $25.87/hr
- 90th percentile
- $61,120
- $29.39/hr
What do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
- Maintain production records, such as quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
- Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
- Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
- Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.
- Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
- Adjust machine controls to alter position, alignment, speed, or pressure.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?
The national median is $46,570 a year. The full range runs from $35,930 at the 10th percentile to $61,120 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.9/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Mechanical3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
- Engineering and Technology3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Coordination.