# Etchers and Engravers

> Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-9194.00
- **Summary:** Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.

## Aliases

- Chemical Engraver
- Engraver
- Etcher
- Photo Engraver
- Acid Etch Operator
- Award Machine Operator
- Electronic Engraver
- Laser Engraver
- Screen Making Technician
- Wet Process Technician
- Block Engraver
- Bowling Ball Engraver

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| 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. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| 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. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.y |
| Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| Use computer software to design patterns for engraving. | Supplemental | 4.A.2.b.2.k |
| Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.3.f |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.y |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Determine production equipment settings. | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Operate cutting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.l |
| Clean workpieces or finished products. | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products. | 4.A.3.a.2.o |
| Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Mix substances to create chemical solutions. | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Trim excess material from workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.am |
| Design templates or patterns. | 4.A.2.b.2.k |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 4.15 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.75 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.75 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.44 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.38 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.25 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.12 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.03 |
| Design | knowledge | 3.02 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Fluency of Ideas | ability | 3 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 2.95 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 2.88 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 2.88 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 2.83 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 2.77 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 2.75 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 2.75 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 2.75 |
| Far Vision | ability | 2.75 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Windows | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Adobe Illustrator | Specialized Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Adobe Illustrator | Graphics or photo imaging software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing CAD/CAM engraving software | Computer aided design CAD and computer aided manufacturing CAM system | no | no |
| Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite | Graphics or photo imaging software | no | no |
| Delcam ArtCAM Express | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| Gravograph GravoStyle | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| Western Engravers Supply Vision EXPERT | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.93 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.43 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.39 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.38 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.25 |
| Time Pressure | 4.25 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.19 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.09 |
| Telephone Conversations | 3.95 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 3.66 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.65 |
| Contact With Others | 3.41 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.41 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.36 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.35 |
| E-Mail | 3.32 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.16 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.03 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.03 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.01 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 2.97 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.96 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 2.92 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.82 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 2.81 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.8 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.76 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 2.75 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 2.69 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.63 |
| Level of Competition | 2.6 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.54 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.32 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.28 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.25 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.19 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 2.19 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.17 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.11 |
| Conflict Situations | 1.98 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** 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.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 53.86 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 32.66 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.72 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.75 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.52 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 3.75 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.44 |
| Applied Arts and Design | specific_interest_area | 3.35 |
| Visual Arts | specific_interest_area | 3.22 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.2 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.77 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 2.57 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.45 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 2.32 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 2.26 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.08 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.99 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 1.38 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 1.33 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.3 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-9123.00 | role-51-9123-00 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | Primary-Short |
| 51-4062.00 | role-51-4062-00 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-9022.00 | role-51-9022-00 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | Primary-Short |
| 51-4111.00 | role-51-4111-00 | Tool and Die Makers | Primary-Short |
| 51-9195.00 | role-51-9195-00 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-9195.03 | role-51-9195-03 | Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing | Primary-Long |
| 51-9071.00 | role-51-9071-00 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | Primary-Long |
| 51-5111.00 | role-51-5111-00 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | Primary-Long |
| 51-4035.00 | role-51-4035-00 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-4033.00 | role-51-4033-00 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-4194.00 | role-51-4194-00 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | Supplemental |
| 51-9031.00 | role-51-9031-00 | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Design | arts-entertainment-design |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services | communications-technologies-technicians-and-support-services |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 40450
- **Mean Wage:** 43280
- **Pct10Wage:** 29530
- **Pct25Wage:** 35650
- **Pct75Wage:** 48510
- **Pct90Wage:** 60430
- **Employment:** 8390
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 4480 | 42400 | 6.45 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 3060 | 36610 | 3.61 |
| 339910 | 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | National industry | 480 | 39350 | 442.83 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 430 | 46730 | 0.73 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 180 | 47170 | 0.55 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 170 | 47320 | 2.7 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 100 | 37210 | 0.2 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 90 | 37030 |  |
| 459110 | 459110 | Sporting Goods Retailers | National industry | 80 | 33690 |  |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 60 | 43850 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 339910 | 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | National industry | 480 | 442.83 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 4480 | 6.45 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 3060 | 3.61 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 170 | 2.7 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 430 | 0.73 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 180 | 0.55 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 100 | 0.2 |
- **Count:** 10

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.98 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.6395226 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.1384033 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.774569 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 28
- **Percentile:** 26
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 30 | felten_aioe |
| 30 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 23 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.6395226 | 30 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.2727272727272727 | 30 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.08150716592803763 | 23 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.98
- **Percentile:** 97
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0
- **Beta:** 0.13636363636363635
- **Gamma:** 0.2727272727272727

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces. | 0.0030812336437847413 | 4.45 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -0.7
- **Growth Percentile:** 23
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 0.9
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 14
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 8.6
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 8.6

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 26
- **Skills:** 33
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 8
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 9b85184c62883503