Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Production Occupations · 45K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$46,570
Median hourly
$22
Average annual
$47,460
Typical range
$35,930–$61,120
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $46,570 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $22 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material..
Most earn between $35,930 and $61,120 a year. There are roughly 45K people employed as cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
- Hourly
- $22.39
- Daily
- $179
- Weekly
- $896
- Bi-weekly
- $1,791
- Monthly
- $3,881
- Annual
- $46,570
$46,570 a year is around the 50th percentile for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss. The median is $46,570.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Wilmington, NC$63,550
- 2Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$62,620
- 3St. Cloud, MN$58,450
- 4Topeka, KS$56,610
- 5Yakima, WA$56,030
- 6Bend, OR$55,660
- 7Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$54,950
- 8La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN$54,280
- 9Gettysburg, PA$54,100
- 10Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$53,680
- 11Cleveland, OH$53,370
- 12Terre Haute, IN$53,180
Related job titles
Employers advertise Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders roles under these titles.
- Abrasive Sawyer
- Almond Cutting Machine Tender
- Angle Shearer
- Apple Peeler Operator
- Applique Cutter
- Arch Cushion Skiving Machine Operator
- Automatic Glass Cutting Machine Operator
- Automatic Outsole Cutter
- Automatic Steel Tie Adjuster
- Bag Cutter
- Band Cutter
- Band Saw Operator
- Band Sawing Machine Operator
- Bead Trimmer
- Beam Press Operator
- Beater
Related occupations
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,760
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,270
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$42,770
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$46,460
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800
What a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders does
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
- Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
- Monitor operation of cutting or slicing machines to detect malfunctions or to determine whether supplies need replenishment.
- Adjust machine controls to alter position, alignment, speed, or pressure.
- Remove completed materials or products from cutting or slicing machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
- Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
- Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
- The median annual wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $46,570 ($22 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,930 at the 10th percentile to $61,120 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $47,460, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss the most?
- Minnesota has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $58,260.
- Is Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 45K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do?
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.; Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.; Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines..