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Etchers and Engravers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$40450	900	-0.7%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$40450

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

900

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

-0.7%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
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.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Determine production equipment settings.
Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products.
Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Operate cutting equipment.
Clean workpieces or finished products.
Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
Operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
Design templates or patterns.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel.
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.
Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.
Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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