Plastic press operator vs punch press operator

The differences between plastic press operators and punch press 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 plastic press operator and a punch press operator. Additionally, a punch press operator has an average salary of $37,977, which is higher than the $30,936 average annual salary of a plastic press operator.

The top three skills for a plastic press operator include hand tools, calipers and quality products. The most important skills for a punch press operator are calipers, turret punch press, and micrometers.

Plastic press operator vs punch press operator overview

	Plastic Press Operator	Punch Press Operator
Yearly salary	$30,936	$37,977
Hourly rate	$14.87	$18.26
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	40,574	49,830
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 52%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

Plastic press operator vs punch press operator salary

Plastic press operators and punch press operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Plastic Press Operator	Punch Press Operator
Average salary	$30,936	$37,977
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $38,000	Between $29,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	-	Brooklyn Park, MN
Highest paying state	-	Minnesota
Best paying company	-	Fortune Brands Home & Security
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between plastic press operator and punch press operator education

There are a few differences between a plastic press operator and a punch press operator in terms of educational background:

	Plastic Press Operator	Punch Press Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 52%
Most common major	Business	General Studies
Most common college	-	-

Plastic press operator vs punch press operator demographics

Here are the differences between plastic press operators' and punch press operators' demographics:

	Plastic Press Operator	Punch Press Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0%	Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
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 plastic press operator and punch press operator duties and responsibilities

Plastic press operator example responsibilities.

Measure thickness of material with calipers and micrometers while sanding to keep material within allowable tolerances.
Operate an extrusion press which produce aluminum products.

Punch press operator example responsibilities.

Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers or veneer calipers.
Die room equipment Gerber profile 408 cnc router table.
Set up and run all aspects of the stamping process
Possess the ability to effectively utilize advance shop math and computer skills.
Operate forklifts, pallet jacks and hoists to move stock and product.
Grind out burrs and sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, and polishing jacks.

Plastic press operator vs punch press operator skills

Common plastic press operator skills

Hand Tools, 37%
Calipers, 31%
Quality Products, 19%
Machine Operation, 8%
Quality Checks, 2%
Press Machine, 1%

Common punch press operator skills

Calipers, 14%
Turret Punch Press, 10%
Micrometers, 8%
Math, 7%
Punch Press Machine, 6%
Machine Operation, 5%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Plastic Press Operator
Plastic Press Operator vs Punch Press Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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