Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders build operations monitoring, operation and control and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (93%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 93% | $46,550 | 0% | None |
| 2 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 91% | $46,330 | −1% | None |
| 3 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 91% | $52,800 | +13% | None |
| 4 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 89% | $38,760 | −17% | None |
| 5 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 89% | $47,180 | +1% | None |
| 6 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 88% | $43,380 | −7% | None |
| 7 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 87% | $50,140 | +8% | None |
| 8 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 87% | $46,350 | 0% | None |
| 9 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 86% | $42,770 | −8% | None |
| 10 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 86% | $50,620 | +9% | None |
Compared with Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, median $46,570. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
93% skill match · $46,550 · 0% pay
Judgment and Decision Making
91% skill match · $46,330 · −1% pay
Operations Analysis
91% skill match · $52,800 · +13% pay
Operations Analysis
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (93% skill match, median $46,550), Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (91% skill match, median $46,330) and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (91% skill match, median $52,800), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 16 pay more than cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+119%, $102,040), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+108%, $96,710) and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (+66%, $77,320).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.