Etchers and Engravers
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and CommunicationsO*NET 51-9194.00United States
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
- Median annual earnings
- $42,332
- Projected change
- +0.8%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 8.72K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
86.5% of the workforce
Growing to 8.79K by 2035
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Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What etchers and engravers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- 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.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $30,154
- 25th percentile
- $35,711
- 50th percentile
- $42,332
- 75th percentile
- $54,501
- 90th percentile
- $67,761
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $42,332 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+0.8%average or slower
20258,724 jobs
2035 projected8,794 jobs
70 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 86.5%
- Associate degree
- 12.7%
- Certificate
- 0.8%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Operators165 postings
- 02Laser Operators116 postings
- 03Associate Technicians62 postings
- 04SMT Operators60 postings
- 05Engravers50 postings
- 06Finishing Technicians50 postings
- 07Laser Engravers49 postings
- 08Custom Applicators46 postings
- 09Technicians39 postings
- 10Processors37 postings
- 11Archery Technicians36 postings
- 12Finishing Operators30 postings
- 13Builders29 postings
- 14Sanders28 postings
- 15Finishers27 postings
- 16Powder Coaters26 postings
- 17Cell Operators22 postings
- 18Press Operators21 postings
- 19Plate Makers20 postings
- 20Machine Technicians19 postings
Top employers
- 01Wellborn Cabinet199 postings
- 02Aerotek99 postings
- 03Adecco55 postings
- 04Bass Pro Shops49 postings
- 05Eaton Corporation45 postings
- 06GPAC45 postings
- 07EssilorLuxottica39 postings
- 08Greif39 postings
- 09Nesco Resource34 postings
- 10Goodwill30 postings
- 11ManpowerGroup27 postings
- 12Jabil25 postings
- 13Globus Medical22 postings
- 14Kelly Services22 postings
- 15Caraustar Industrial And Consumer Products Group18 postings
- 16Volt17 postings
- 17Belcan15 postings
- 18Carpenter Agency15 postings
- 19Olympic Industries15 postings
- 20Hubbell14 postings
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