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Boston Career Explorer

Production

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

Compare with my current job (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$44,320
$21.31/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
590
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+5.2%
100 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$38,190$38,670$44,320$50,060$57,780

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure13 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 14
  • Language-model AIOE 11
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 14

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and observed AI use is only some. AI tools may help with reviewing work orders, setting up jobs, and keeping production records. Running the cutting machines and removing and fixing bad product are hands-on tasks that AI tools do not do. Massachusetts employment is projected to grow 5.2%.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing work orders and blueprints for settings
  • Keeping production records

Still relies on people

  • Operating cutting machines with controls and pedals
  • Removing defective material and readjusting machines

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

    Reading work orders and trimming material to shape builds on your cutting experience. It pays $55,530 and is projected to grow 6.7%.

    Pay difference
    +$11,210 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.7%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Starting machines, setting controls, and checking products for defects is very similar work. It pays $51,220 and is projected to grow 3.9%.

    Pay difference
    +$6,900 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +3.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

    Measuring workpieces against specifications and working safely carry over. Welding pays more ($63,770) and is projected to grow 4.2%.

    Pay difference
    +$19,450 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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