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.

Also called: Cutter, Cutter Operator, Cutting Machine Operator, Die Cutter Operator, Flat Cutter, Machine Operator, Paper Cutter, Sheeter, Skiver Operator, Slitter, 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, Band Cutter, Band Sawing Machine Operator, Bead Trimmer, Belt Cutter, Bias Cutter, Bias Machine Operator, Block Cutter, Block Splitter Operator, Blockers Skiver, Blueprint Trimmer, Book Trimmer, Cap Cutter, Carbon Cutter, Card Cutter, Carver, Celery Cutter, Cheese Cutter, Chopper, Circle Shear Operator, Circular Knife Machine Cutter, Concaving Machine Operator, Concrete Cutting Operator, Concrete Saw Operator, Cord Cutter, Cork Cutter, Corn Cutter, Corner Cutter, Counter Cutter, Cover Cutter, Crayon Sawyer, Creasing Press Operator, Crystal Cutter, Cube Cutter, Cut Lace Machine Operator, Cut Off Machine Operator, Cut Off Operator Scorer, Cut-Off Operator, Cutter Finisher, Cutter Machine Tender, Cutter Tender, Cutting Machine Tender, Cutting Press Operator, Cutting Pressman, Decal Cutter, Decorative Cutting Machine Tender, Diamond Cutter, Die Cutter, Die Cutting Machine Operator, Dog Food Shredder Operator, Edge Trimmer, Emblem Cutter, Excelsior Cutter, Feather Sawyer, Fiber Product Cutting Machine Operator, Filler Shredder, Flake Cutter Operator, Flat Machine Cutter, Fleshing Machine Operator, Fluid Jet Cutter Operator, Foxing Cutting Machine Operator, Frozen Meat Cutter, Fur Cutter, Glass Cut-Off Tender, Glass Cutter, Glass Cutting Machine Operator, Graduating Machine Operator, Granulating Machine Operator, Groover, Groover Operator, Grooving Machine Operator, Guillotine Operator, Guillotine Trimmer, Gum Scoring Machine Operator, Hasher Machine Operator, Hasher Operator, Heel Gouger, Hot Die Press Operator, Hot Mill Shearer, Ice Crusher, Ice Cutter, Ice Grinder, Inseam Trimmer, Insert Cutter, Insulation Batting Machine Operator, Insulation Board Saw Operator, Insulation Cutter, Insulation Former, Knife Operator, Lap Cutter, Lay-Ups Assembler, Leather Carver, Leather Cutter, Leather Heel Breaster, Lens Cutter, Lining Cutter, Link Cutter, Lip of Shank Cutter, Loop Cutter, Machine Cutter, Machine Filler Shredder, Machine Heel-Seat Fitter, Machine Joint Cutter, Machine Leather Trimmer, Machine Operator Slitter Technician (Machine Operator Slitter Tech), Machine Splitter, Machine Stonecutter, Machine Trimmer, Machine Zipper Trimmer, Mink Slicer, Miter Cutter, Molded Rubber Goods Cutter, Molding Cutter, Mooner, Mushroom Cutter, Nicker, Optical Glass Sawyer, Pad Cutter, Paper Box Cutter, Paper Cutting Machine Operator, Paper Slitter, Paring Machine Operator, Partition Making Machine Operator, Pepper Cutter, Pickle Cutter, Pinking Machine Operator, Pipe Blanks Cut-Off Saw Operator, Pipe Cutter, Pitting Machine Operator, Plate Shear Operator, Platen Press Operator, Plug Cutter, Plug Cutting Machine Operator, Ply Cutter, Pole-Peeling Machine Operator, Powder Cutting Operator, Power Shear Operator, Press Cutter, Print Cutter, Quartz Cutter, Quartz Mounter, Rag Cutting Machine Tender, Rawhide Trimmer, Ream Cutter, Record Cutter, Refractory Grinder Operator, Ripshear Operator, Rock Cutter, Rock Splitter, Roll Cutter, Roll Sheeting Cutter, Roll Slicing Machine Tender, Rope Cutter, Rotary Cutter, Rotary Cutter Operator, Rotary Machine Operator, Rotary Operator, Round Corner Cutter Operator, Rounding Machine Operator, Rubber Cutter, Rubber Cutting Machine Tender, Rubber Splicer, Rubber Trimmer, Saddle Cutter, Sample Cutter, Sample Sawyer, Saw Operator, Sawyer, Scroll Shear Operator, Seed Potato Cutter, Shade Cutter, Shaping Machine Operator, Shaving Machine Operator, Shear Operator, Shear Setter, Shearer, Shearing Machine Feeder, Shearing Machine Operator, Shearing Machine Tender, Sheet Taker, Sheeter Operator, Shredder, Shredder Tender, Sink Cutter, Ski Top Trimmer, Skiver, Slate Cutter, Slate Trimmer, Slice Plug Cutter Operator, Slicing Machine Operator, Slicing Machine Tender, Slitter Cut Off Operator, Slitter Operator, Slitter Scorer, Slitting Machine Operator, Slotter Operator, Smoking Tobacco Cutter Operator, Splitter Operator, Splitter Tender, Splitting Machine Operator, Square Shear Operator, Squaring Shear Operator, Stem Cutter, Stock Cutter, Stock Layer, Stone Circular Sawyer, Stone Driller, Stone Gang Sawyer, Stone Lathe Operator, Stone Sawyer, Stone Splitter, Stone Trimmer, Stonework Wire Sawyer, Straight Knife Machine Cutter, Strap Cutting Machine Operator, Strip Cutter, Strip Cutting Machine Operator, Tack Cutter, Tape Cutter, Tip Cutter, Tobacco Cutter, Tread Cutter, Trimmer, Trimmer Operator, Trimming Cutter, Trimming Machine Operator, Trimming Operator, Tube Cutter, Tube Cutter Operator, Tube Sizer Operator, Tuber Machine Cutter, Turner, Type Cutter, Umbrella Cutter, V Belt Skiver, V Groove Cutter, Vegetable Cutter, Watch Crystal Cutter, Wax Cutter, Welt Cutter, Window Cutter, Window Shade Cutter, Wire Sawyer, Woodwind Reeds Cutter, Zipper Cutter

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Monitoring
Equipment Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Coordination
Complex Problem Solving
Repairing

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (91.95% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

39,440–53,800 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9032.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (91.95% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders