A press brake is a machine used to manipulate metal into various shapes and forms. Press brake operators manufacture tools, metal, and other pieces of equipment using a press brake to make punches, bends, and cuts into sheet or plate metal. These operators may have their own business, work in a factory setting, or other types of machinery shops.

Press Brake Operator Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real press brake operator resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • 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.
  • Drawl parts using auto cad and upload them to machines.
  • Set guides and install jigs or fixtures for positioning work piece.
  • Cut steel with a Mazak CNC tube laser according to blueprint.
  • Perform a review SPC, including data collection, charts and graphs.
  • Used a MD: Yag laser to engrave logos and serial numbers onto medical products
  • Read blueprints for design specifications, MIG welding galvanize, stainless and cold roll steels.
  • Set up and operate CNC press machine to manufacture metal parts according to blueprints and work orders.
  • Insert, align and lock punches and dies in turret with hammer, shims, feelers, micrometers and setscrews.
  • Measure thickness of material with calipers and micrometers while sanding to keep material within allowable tolerances.

Press Brake Operator Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 12% of Press Brake Operators are proficient in Calipers, Tape Measure, and Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Dexterity, and Mechanical skills.

We break down the percentage of Press Brake Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Calipers, 12%

    Inspected final product using micrometer and calipers per Specialized Product Control to ensure out-of-specification parts were identified.

  • Tape Measure, 9%

    Form parts and check angles and dimensions Skills UsedRead tape measure and use of a square

  • Math, 8%

    Team leader/Press brake operator /Tool and Die maintenance stamping press form parts reading blue prints and using BASIC math skills.

  • Hand Tools, 7%

    Utilized hand tools such as dead blow and ball peen hammers to ensure proper final fit and finish of fabricated parts.

  • Amada, 5%

    Operated stamping press before promoted to brake press operator (Amada) for sheet metal fabrication learned to read blueprints.

  • Safety Procedures, 4%

    Set up and operate production equipment in accordance with current good manufacturing best practices and standard operating and safety procedures.

Most press brake operators list "calipers," "tape measure," and "math" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important press brake operator responsibilities here:

  • The most important skills for a press brake operator to have in this position are computer skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a press brake operator resume, you'll understand why: "metal and plastic machine workers often must be able to use programmable devices, computers, and robots on the factory floor." According to resumes we found, computer skills can be used by a press brake operator in order to "applied extensive use of mathematics and computer knowledge. "
  • Another commonly found skill for being able to perform press brake operator duties is the following: dexterity. According to a press brake operator resume, "metal and plastic machine workers who work in metal and plastic machined goods manufacturing use precise hand movements to make the necessary shapes, cuts, and edges that designs require." Check out this example of how press brake operators use dexterity: "load and unload shipment trucks using forklifts, pallet jacks, side loaders, and overhead cranes. "
  • Mechanical skills is also an important skill for press brake operators to have. This example of how press brake operators use this skill comes from a press brake operator resume, "metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machinery" Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "operated mechanical punch presses and brake presses built castor wheels for containers assisted operator on shear"
  • In order for certain press brake operator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "physical strength." According to a press brake operator resume, "metal and plastic machine workers must be strong enough to guide and load heavy and bulky parts and materials into machines." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "planned sequence of operations, applying knowledge of physical properties of metal. "
  • See the full list of press brake operator skills.

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    What Welder-Machine Operators Do

    A production operator is responsible for handling and monitoring manufacturing machines in a factory or similar establishment, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to schedule. Aside from assisting with the processing and packaging of goods, a production operator must also conduct necessary inspections to the machine or equipment that they are using to make sure that it is in good condition and is safe to use. Should there be any issues or concerns regarding safety, it is essential to notify a supervisor right away.

    In this section, we compare the average press brake operator annual salary with that of a welder-machine operator. Typically, welder-machine operators earn a $812 higher salary than press brake operators earn annually.

    While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both press brake operators and welder-machine operators positions are skilled in tape measure, safety procedures, and punch press.

    There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. For example, a press brake operator responsibilities require skills like "calipers," "math," "hand tools," and "amada." Meanwhile a typical welder-machine operator has skills in areas such as "safety equipment," "cnc," "tack," and "plasma arc." This difference in skills reveals how truly different these two careers really are.

    Welder-machine operators really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $54,740. Whereas press brake operators tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $40,158.

    Welder-machine operators tend to reach similar levels of education than press brake operators. In fact, welder-machine operators are 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

    What Are The Duties Of a Machine Set Up Operator?

    The next role we're going to look at is the machine set up operator profession. Typically, this position earns a lower pay. In fact, they earn a $536 lower salary than press brake operators per year.

    Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Press brake operators and machine set up operators both include similar skills like "calipers," "tape measure," and "math" on their resumes.

    In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, press brake operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "hand tools," "safety procedures," "hydraulic press," and "cnc brake." Meanwhile, a machine set up operator might be skilled in areas such as "cnc machines," "micrometers," "cnc lathes," and "dexterity." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

    On average, machine set up operators earn a lower salary than press brake operators. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, machine set up operators earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $39,440. Whereas, press brake operators have higher paychecks in the finance industry where they earn an average of $40,158.

    When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, machine set up operators tend to reach similar levels of education than press brake operators. In fact, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    How a Production Operator Compares

    The production operator profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of press brake operators. The difference in salaries is production operators making $1,174 lower than press brake operators.

    While looking through the resumes of several press brake operators and production operators we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "math," "hand tools," and "basic math," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

    There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a press brake operator is likely to be skilled in "calipers," "tape measure," "amada," and "hydraulic press," while a typical production operator is skilled in "gmp," "safety rules," "production equipment," and "customer service."

    Production operators make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $37,865. Whereas press brake operators are paid the highest salary in the finance industry with the average being $40,158.

    Production operators are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to press brake operators. Additionally, they're 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    Description Of a Technical Machine Operator

    Now, we'll look at technical machine operators, who generally average a lower pay when compared to press brake operators annual salary. In fact, the difference is about $2,547 per year.

    While their salaries may vary, press brake operators and technical machine operators both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "math," "basic math," and "safety procedures. "

    Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a press brake operator might have more use for skills like "calipers," "tape measure," "hand tools," and "amada." Meanwhile, some technical machine operators might include skills like "preventative maintenance," "safety regulations," "cnc," and "continuous improvement" on their resume.

    Technical machine operators earn a higher salary in the manufacturing industry with an average of $35,834. Whereas, press brake operators earn the highest salary in the finance industry.

    The average resume of technical machine operators showed that they earn similar levels of education to press brake operators. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 0.7% more. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.