Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Abrasive Sawyer, Almond Cutting Machine Tender, Apple Peeler Operator, Applique Cutter, Arch Cushion Skiving Machine Operator, Automatic Glass Cutting Machine Operator, Automatic Outsole Cutter, Bag Cutter
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
What cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove completed materials or products from cutting or slicing machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
- Stack and sort cut material for packaging, further processing, or shipping, according to types and sizes of material.
- Type instructions on computer keyboards, push buttons to activate computer programs, or manually set cutting guides, clamps, and knives.
- Select and install machine components, such as cutting blades, rollers, and templates, according to specifications, using hand tools.
- Position stock along cutting lines, or against stops on beds of scoring or cutting machines.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary
The median annual wage for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders is $46,570 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $35,930 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $61,120. The mean annual wage is $47,460.
The mean hourly wage of $22.00 is 3.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $46,570 → in 3 years $50,500 → in 5 years $53,300 → in 10 years $60,900 (10-year range $52,400–$70,700). The model assumes pay growth of +2.7% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.