Press Setup Technician

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

Also called: Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Die Setter, Fabrication Operator, Machine Operator, Machine Setter, Press Brake Operator, Press Operator, Punch Press Operator, Saw Operator, Setup Operator, Slitter Operator, Adjuster, Angle Shear Operator, Angle Shear Setup Operator, Arbor Press Operator, Automatic Punch Press Operator, Automatic Screwmaker, Automobile Bumper Straightener, Bander Operator, Banding Machine Operator, Bench Shear Operator, Bender Machine Operator, Bending Machine Setup Operator, Bending Roll Operator, Beveler, Billet Cutter, Billet Shearer, Blanker, Body Press Operator, Bolt Cutter, Brake Machine Operator, Brake Operator, Brake Press Operator, Brass Cutter, Bullet Assembly Press Operator, Calender Roll Press Operator, Can Cutter, Center Punch Operator, Clearance Cutter, Clincher, Clinching Machine Operator, Coil Cutter, Coil Shaper, Cold Saw Operator, Corner Former, Crimping Machine Operator, Crimping Press Operator, Cut Off Machine Operator, Cut Off Saw Setup Operator, Cutter, Cutting and Creasing Press Operator, Cutting Machine Operator, Debridging Machine Operator, Diamond Saw Operator, Dicer Operator, Die Cutter, Digital Press Operator, Dimpling Machine Operator, Dinkey Press Operator, Draw Press Operator, Drawing Press Operator, Duplicator Punch Operator, Duplicator Punch Setup Operator, Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech), Fabrication Machine Operator, Fabricator, Filament Cutter, Finish Saw Operator, Flexographic Press Operator (Flexo Press Operator), Flying Shear Operator, Foot Press Operator, Forming Press Operator, Four Slide Machine Setter, Four Slide Operator, Friction Saw Operator, Gasket Former, Gasket Maker, Hack Saw Operator, Hammer Operator, Heavy Duty Press Operator, Hoop Puncher, Hot Dimpling Machine Operator, Hot Punch Press Operator, Hot Saw Operator, Hot Stamp Operator, Hydropress Operator, Iron Bender, Jigsawyer, Joggle Press Operator, Key Cutter, Kick Press Operator, Kick Press Setter, Knuckle Bender, Link Cutter, Machining Associate, Manufacturing Associate, Manufacturing Operator, Metal and Plastic Sawing Machine Tool Setter, Metal and Plastic Shear and Slitter Machine Setter, Metal Bending Machine Operator, Metal Bonding Press Operator, Metal Crimping Machine Operator, Metal Cut Off Saw Operator, Metal Cut Off Saw Tender, Metal Cutter, Metal Punch Press Operator, Metal Shaping Machine Operator, Metal Slitter, Metal Stamper, Metal Stamping Machine Operator, Metal Trimmer, Metal Tube Cutter, Metallic Yarn Slitting Machine Operator, Mottle Lay Up Operator, Nibbler Operator, Notcher, Notching Machine Operator, Nut Blanker Operator, Perforator Operator, Pierce and Shave Press Operator, Pipe Bender, Pipe Stem Sawyer, Planisher, Planishing Press Operator, Plastic Cutter, Plastic Press Operator, Plate Slitter and Inspector, Pneumatic Press Hand, Power Brake Operator, Power Press Tender, Press Brake Machine Operator, Press Brake Machine Setter, Press Brake Machine Setup Operator, Press Brake Set Up Operator, Press Machine Operator, Press Setter, Press Setup Operator, Printed Circuit Board Die Setup Operator, Printed Circuit Board Panels Trimmer, Profile Saw Operator, Profile Saw Setup Operator, Profile Trimmer, Punch Machine Hand, Punch Machine Operator, Punch Operator, Punch Press Setter, Rivet Hole Puncher, Rotary Shear Operator, Sawyer, Scrap Cutter, Screw Cutter, Setter, Setup Technician (Setup Tech), Shear Operator, Shear Setter, Shearman, Sheet Metal Fabricator, Shift Operator, Sinter Press Operator, Sintering Press Operator, Slasher, Slat Twister, Slitter Technician (Slitter Tech), Slitting Machine Operator, Snap Shearer, Spring Coiling Machine Setter, Spring Tester, Square Cutter, Stamp Press Operator, Stamping Operator, Stamping Press Operator, Steel Cutter, Straight Line Press Setter, Straightener, Straightener Operator, Straightening Machine Operator, Straightening Press Operator, Strip Metal Punch Operator, Swage Tender, Swaging Machine Adjuster, Sweep Press Operator, Table Saw Operator, Tablet Machine Operator, Tape Control Press Operator, Terminal Press Operator, Thermal Cutting Machine Operator, Tin Cutter, Toggle Press Operator, Trim Machine Adjuster, Trimmer Machine Operator, Trimming Machine Operator, Tube Cutter, Tubing Machine Tender, Turret Punch Press Operator, Vertical Contour Band Saw Operator, Vertical Punch Operator, Wheel Press Operator, Wheel Presser, Wire Coiner, Wire Cutter, Wire Machine Cutter, Wire Sawyer, Wire Straightener, Zipper Cutter, Zipper Trimmer

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

What the worker does

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.
Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.
Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines.
Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations.
Clean work area.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Troubleshooting
Quality Control Analysis
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Active Learning
Coordination

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (63.43% 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

38,870–55,410 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4031.

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

Career advancement

Develop die setup, press troubleshooting, tooling, and process-control experience; explore senior setup or team-lead responsibilities.
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) (63.43% 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, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic