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Boston Career Explorer

Production

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

Median pay in Greater Boston
$50,710
$24.38/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
230
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+6.2%
60 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
$40,830$47,460$50,710$58,620$62,200

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

What you’d do

  • 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.

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 exposure20 of 100

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

  • AIOE 28
  • Language-model AIOE 25
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 8

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for etchers and engravers is lower, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools may help with reading designs, sketches, and blueprints, or with spotting defects in images. The hands-on work of etching, cleaning, polishing, and judging finished pieces up close still depends on skilled people.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing sketches and blueprints before etching
  • Checking finished work for visible defects

Still relies on people

  • Hands-on cleaning and polishing of engraved areas
  • Judging etching depth and quality up close

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.

  • Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

    You already inspect work for defects and follow detailed specifications. Welding uses the same careful eye and pays a higher Boston median, $63,770.

    Pay difference
    +$13,060 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    Checking dimensions and fit builds on your precision work, and cabinetmaking offers a higher median pay of $59,120 with moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$8,410 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

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

    Reading work orders and finishing pieces by hand carry over from engraving. This job also has a higher Boston median pay, $55,530.

    Pay difference
    +$4,820 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.7%
    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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