Etchers and Engravers

Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.

Also called: Acid Etch Operator, Award Machine Operator, Chemical Engraver, Electronic Engraver, Engraver, Etcher, Laser Engraver, Photo Engraver, Screen Making Technician, Wet Process Technician, Block Engraver, Bowling Ball Engraver, Cold Etch Operator, Decorative Engraver, Die Cutter, Dynamic Etching Processor, Embosser, Engraving Equipment Operator, Engraving Finisher, Engraving Patternmaker, Engraving Plate Maker, Engrosser, Enhanced Environmental Operator, Equipment Operator, Etched Circuit Processor, Etching Operator, Finishing Technician, Glass Calibrator, Glass Decorator, Glass Engraver, Glass Etcher, Glass Products Engraver, Hand Engraver, Hand Etcher, Hand Roller Engraver, Hand Screen Printer, Hard Metal Hand Engraver, Hard Metals Hand Engraver, Internal Carver, Jewelry Engraver, Jogger, Jogger Operator, Laser Etch Technician, Laser Etching Technician, Laser Operator, Leaf Stamper, Lens Engraver, Letterer, Liner, Machine Engraver, Machine Precision Engraver, Machine Precision Etcher, Metal Engraver, Mold Engraver, Mold Stamper, Music Engraver, Optical Glass Etcher, Pantograph Engraver, Picture Engraver, Plate Cutter, Plate Maker, Printing and Publishing Block Engraver, Printing and Publishing Picture Engraver, Printing and Publishing Siderographer, Printing and Publishing Sketch Maker, Processor, Proof Plate Maker, Re-Etcher, Retoucher, Rework Operator, Roller Engraver, Roller Mechanic, Roller Repairer, Rotary Engraver, Rubber Engraver, Seals Engraver, Show Card Letterer, Show Card Writer, Siderographer, Siderographist, Silk Screen Etcher, Silk Screen Processor, Silkscreen Printer, Silversmith, Silverware Etcher, Sketch Maker, Soft Metal Hand Engraver, Soft Metals Hand Engraver, Steel Die Engraver, Steel Engraver, Stone Engraver, Textile Engraver, Wax Engraver, Wood Block Artist, Wood Engraver, Zinc Plate Cutter

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

What the worker does

Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
Clean and polish engraved areas.

Skills, machines and equipment

Reading Comprehension
Monitoring
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Judgment and Decision Making
Social Perceptiveness
Time Management
Complex Problem Solving

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (53.86% 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

37,400–53,050 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9194.

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) (53.86% 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.

Etchers and Engravers