Occupation Profile

Industries Employing

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Workers

(SOC Code : 51-4031)

in California

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2023	1st Qtr	$22.90	$18.78	$22.45	$25.10

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Total Job Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2018 - 2028	12,400	11,200	-1,200	-9.7	11,960

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Architectural and Structural Met

1,752

16.7%

Plastics and Rubber Products Manuf

1,286

9.9%

Employment Services

5,110

7.8%

Primary Metal Manufacturing

639

5.6%

Other Miscellaneous Manufacturin

8,096

4.4%

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component

1,654

4.2%

Other Fabricated Metal Product Mfg

1,102

3.8%

Machine Shops; Turned Product; a

3,445

3.7%

Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing

537

3.2%

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, a

1,113

3.2%

Household and Institutional Furn

2,620

3.0%

Medical Equipment and Supplies M

2,553

2.9%

Aerospace Product and Parts Manu

604

2.0%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

Machine Tool Technology/Machinist

Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.

Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.

Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.

Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines.

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.

Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.

Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools.

Clean work area.

Clean and lubricate machines.

More Tasks for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Top Skills used in this Job

Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

More Skills for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Data for Abilities not available.

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

More WorkValues for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

More Interests for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic