National
| Median wages (2008) |
$13.22 hourly, $27,500 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
14,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Decline slowly or moderately (-3% to -9%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
3,000 additional employees |
51-9194.00 - Etchers and Engravers
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials for identification or decorative purposes. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Sample of reported job titles:
Engraver, Etcher, Acid Etch Operator, Laser Engraver, Photo Engraver, Screen Making Technician, Computer Engraver, Electronic Engraver Operator, Mechanical Engraver Operator, Metals Engraver
Tasks
- Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
- 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.
- Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
- Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
- Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
- Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
- Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
- Clean and polish engraved areas.
- Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
- Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
