Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Etchers and Engravers
SOC: 51-9194 O*NET: 51-9194.00
Median Salary
$40,450
per year
Job Growth
📉 -0.7%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
0.9
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
What does a Etchers and Engravers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$29,530
10th percentile
Early Career
$35,650
25th percentile
Median
$40,450
50th percentile
Experienced
$48,510
75th percentile
Top Earners
$60,430
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$29,530
25th
$35,650
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$40,450
Mean: $43,280
75th
$48,510
90th
$60,430
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $30,900 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $35,650 and $48,510
- •Salary spread is 31.8% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 8,390 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:8,600
Top Industries
Manufacturing53.4%
Retail Trade36.5%
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers29.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-0.7%
Annual Openings:900
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)8,600
Current
2034 (Projected)8,600
-0.7%
-100
Employment Change
-0.7%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Etchers and Engravers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 41 locations
Texas
1,130 jobs$35,6801.50x
California
860 jobs$42,8000.88x
Wisconsin
520 jobs$42,0703.28x
Michigan
500 jobs$42,3202.09x
Massachusetts
490 jobs$43,8702.46x
New York
460 jobs$38,7500.89x
Illinois
390 jobs$47,7201.19x
Indiana
310 jobs$42,7901.80x
Tennessee
260 jobs$46,0401.46x
Florida
250 jobs$39,8700.47x
Virginia
250 jobs$37,8201.13x
Pennsylvania
230 jobs$45,8900.69x
Arizona
220 jobs$35,3301.26x
Minnesota
210 jobs$44,2601.33x
Ohio
210 jobs$36,8800.69x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Reading Comprehension
100%
#2
Monitoring
92%
#3
Operations Monitoring
82%
#4
Operation and Control
74%
#5
Quality Control Analysis
66%
#6
Active Listening
58%
#7
Critical Thinking
48%
#8
Speaking
40%
Skills Overview
Reading Comprehension
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
advanced4.6
92%
Operations Monitoring
intermediate4.1
82%
Operation and Control
intermediate3.7
74%
Quality Control Analysis
intermediate3.3
66%
Active Listening
basic2.9
58%
Critical Thinking
basic2.4
48%
Speaking
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Monitoring
advancedImportance92%
skills
4.6/5.0
Operations Monitoring
intermediateImportance82%
skills
4.1/5.0
Operation and Control
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance58%
skills
2.9/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance48%
abilities
2.4/5.0
Speaking
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders100%
5 shared skills
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders89%
5 shared skills
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders89%
5 shared skills
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic89%
5 shared skills
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic89%
5 shared skills
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers88%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Quality Control Analysis
- →Active Listening
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Operation and Control
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Etchers and Engravers
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Adobe Illustrator
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Windows
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Adobe Illustrator
Microsoft Windows
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (11)Planning & Development (8)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)
1
Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development97% perform98%
3
Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development91% perform94%
5
Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development85% perform90%
7
Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Clean and polish engraved areas.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Planning & Development76% perform84%
10
Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Etchers and Engravers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Etchers and Engravers professionals typically have a RCA Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
AArtistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Etchers and Engravers
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.66
Independence
Very ImportantIndependence
Importance Level4.49
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.41
Achievement/Effort
Very ImportantAchievement/Effort
Importance Level4.00
Persistence
Very ImportantPersistence
Importance Level4.00
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.91
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.7
Independence
4.5
Dependability
4.4
Achievement/Effort
4.0
Persistence
4.0
Cooperation
3.9
Initiative
3.8
Self-Control
3.8
Integrity
3.7
Analytical Thinking
3.7
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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