Drill press operator vs press brake operator

The differences between drill press operators and press brake operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a drill press operator and a press brake operator. Additionally, a press brake operator has an average salary of $36,359, which is higher than the $35,232 average annual salary of a drill press operator.

The top three skills for a drill press operator include blueprint specifications, jigs and tape measure. The most important skills for a press brake operator are calipers, tape measure, and math.

Drill press operator vs press brake operator overview

	Drill Press Operator	Press Brake Operator
Yearly salary	$35,232	$36,359
Hourly rate	$16.94	$17.48
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	44,485	57,264
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 51%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

Drill press operator vs press brake operator salary

Drill press operators and press brake operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Drill Press Operator	Press Brake Operator
Average salary	$35,232	$36,359
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $43,000	Between $29,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	-	Hartford, CT
Highest paying state	-	Rhode Island
Best paying company	-	Johnson Controls
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between drill press operator and press brake operator education

There are a few differences between a drill press operator and a press brake operator in terms of educational background:

	Drill Press Operator	Press Brake Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 51%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Drill press operator vs press brake operator demographics

Here are the differences between drill press operators' and press brake operators' demographics:

	Drill Press Operator	Press Brake Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between drill press operator and press brake operator duties and responsibilities

Drill press operator example responsibilities.

Certify machine operator for Amada press break of stainless steel
General mig welding for any project that is needed.
Drill and tap aerospace parts such as steel and aluminum structures.
Use of work orders to follow ISO procedures, and complete product quantity for each job perform.
Used tooling consist of Oxygen/acetylene torches, grinders, welding equipment including MIG and flux-core wire using noble gas shields.
Perform basic troubleshooting of extrusion machinery and plastics processes.

Press brake operator example responsibilities.

Set up machines and troubleshoot.
Set up and run a turret punch
Maintain and ensure proper use of PPE.
Promote from tool operator to dye shop.
Hold tight tolerances and always use your PPE.
Used math skills to produce parts to a specific dimension.

Drill press operator vs press brake operator skills

Common drill press operator skills

Blueprint Specifications, 19%
Jigs, 16%
Tape Measure, 11%
CNC Machines, 8%
Safety Practices, 5%
Drill Holes, 5%

Common press brake operator skills

Calipers, 12%
Tape Measure, 9%
Math, 8%
Hand Tools, 7%
Amada, 5%
Safety Procedures, 4%

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Drill Press Operator
Drill Press Operator vs Press Brake Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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