A press brake operator most commonly works in manufacturing and production, handling tasks related to setting up and operating press brakes. They perform duties such as verifying the accuracy of machine settings and functions, detecting and reporting equipment malfuction, and working on products that conform to quality control.
As an essential part of the production line, a press brake operator must be knowledgeable in the machines and tools related to their duties and responsibilities. They also have to communicate with shift supervisors and next shift operators regarding all production-related items and processes.
To qualify for the job, a press brake operator is required to have at least a high school diploma or GED. Preferably, they also have prior experience in operating press brakes. Because of the nature of their work, they need physical stamina, the ability to read blueprints, familiarity with metals and measuring tools, and computer literacy.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a press brake operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.82 an hour? That's $32,913 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -8% and produce -83,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many press brake operators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed computer skills, dexterity and mechanical skills.
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a press brake operator, we found that a lot of resumes listed 17.5% of press brake operators included inspect parts, while 13.5% of resumes included drill press, and 8.5% of resumes included tape measure. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
When it comes to searching for a job, many search for a key term or phrase. Instead, it might be more helpful to search by industry, as you might be missing jobs that you never thought about in industries that you didn't even think offered positions related to the press brake operator job title. But what industry to start with? Most press brake operators actually find jobs in the manufacturing and professional industries.
If you're interested in becoming a press brake operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 7.2% of press brake operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 0.5% of press brake operators have master's degrees. Even though some press brake operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a press brake operator. When we researched the most common majors for a press brake operator, we found that they most commonly earn high school diploma degrees or associate degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on press brake operator resumes include diploma degrees or bachelor's degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a press brake operator. In fact, many press brake operator jobs require experience in a role such as machine operator. Meanwhile, many press brake operators also have previous career experience in roles such as numerical control operator or welder.