Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Mean (average) | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| 90th percentile | $61,120 | $29.39 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,740 | $31,710 | $60,350 | 590 | 0.96 |
| Alaska | $46,240 | $24,770 | $63,650 | 30 | 0.34 |
| Arizona | $46,780 | $37,200 | $58,690 | 760 | 0.81 |
| Arkansas | $47,320 | $38,590 | $64,920 | 800 | 2.11 |
| California | $46,110 | $37,110 | $61,820 | 3,080 | 0.58 |
| Colorado | $51,750 | $40,400 | $60,150 | 700 | 0.85 |
| Connecticut | $44,530 | $36,830 | $57,140 | 450 | 0.92 |
| Florida | $40,540 | $33,410 | $59,040 | 1,370 | 0.48 |
| Georgia | $44,130 | $32,210 | $60,580 | 1,230 | 0.87 |
| Idaho | $46,840 | $42,810 | $55,700 | 160 | 0.64 |
| Illinois | $49,740 | $44,780 | $62,380 | 1,770 | 1 |
| Indiana | $46,150 | $37,430 | $61,470 | 2,110 | 2.28 |
| Iowa | $49,600 | $40,510 | $62,390 | 920 | 2.03 |
| Kansas | $44,760 | $36,510 | $54,580 | 760 | 1.84 |
| Kentucky | $48,180 | $37,820 | $59,810 | 900 | 1.56 |
| Louisiana | $41,170 | $30,700 | $70,860 | 110 | 0.2 |
| Maine | $49,200 | $35,380 | $57,890 | 160 | 0.88 |
| Maryland | $44,820 | $37,040 | $60,300 | 280 | 0.35 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 | $35,360 | $58,430 | 1,280 | 1.22 |
| Michigan | $44,620 | $37,210 | $59,160 | 730 | 0.57 |
| Minnesota | $58,260 | $47,010 | $65,160 | 1,130 | 1.33 |
| Mississippi | $41,590 | $30,460 | $57,050 | 710 | 2.1 |
| Missouri | $50,930 | $37,530 | $63,410 | 1,120 | 1.32 |
| Montana | $51,540 | $38,830 | $64,200 | 100 | 0.65 |
| Nebraska | $48,300 | $38,690 | $60,540 | 530 | 1.78 |
| Nevada | $43,470 | $35,560 | $58,930 | 340 | 0.75 |
| New Hampshire | $50,290 | $39,520 | $65,280 | 90 | 0.48 |
| New Jersey | $48,600 | $36,820 | $62,930 | 1,040 | 0.84 |
| New Mexico | $32,770 | $32,770 | $45,100 | 200 | 0.78 |
| New York | $49,680 | $38,190 | $63,930 | 1,870 | 0.67 |
| North Carolina | $43,770 | $34,470 | $59,830 | 3,100 | 2.17 |
| North Dakota | $47,480 | $43,150 | $61,390 | 70 | 0.58 |
| Ohio | $48,400 | $36,550 | $59,320 | 3,000 | 1.87 |
| Oklahoma | $37,910 | $31,110 | $50,250 | 620 | 1.26 |
| Oregon | $51,180 | $45,880 | $63,140 | 990 | 1.74 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,850 | $36,530 | $60,540 | 1,630 | 0.93 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,010 | $22,590 | $45,570 | 50 | 0.2 |
| Rhode Island | $45,950 | $31,970 | $55,700 | 210 | 1.43 |
| South Carolina | $47,410 | $36,400 | $61,900 | 730 | 1.1 |
| South Dakota | $44,980 | $39,720 | $53,800 | 460 | 3.45 |
| Tennessee | $44,030 | $35,210 | $50,000 | 1,260 | 1.33 |
| Texas | $42,210 | $34,670 | $52,740 | 3,650 | 0.9 |
| Utah | $45,510 | $35,330 | $59,810 | 740 | 1.47 |
| Vermont | $52,220 | $42,670 | $74,770 | 100 | 1.1 |
| Virginia | $44,790 | $35,980 | $54,820 | 840 | 0.71 |
| Washington | $50,430 | $42,470 | $70,510 | 760 | 0.74 |
| West Virginia | $37,920 | $33,790 | $51,100 | 160 | 0.77 |
| Wisconsin | $48,040 | $36,940 | $58,300 | 1,300 | 1.52 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.6%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Coordination.
Common job titles: Cutter, Cutter Operator, Cutting Machine Operator, Die Cutter Operator, Flat Cutter, Machine Operator, Paper Cutter, Sheeter, Skiver Operator, Slitter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders was $46,570 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,930 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,120. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders to change -0.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($58,260), Vermont ($52,220), Colorado ($51,750). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.