How To Become A Press Break Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a press break operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average press break operator salary is $34,189. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an general studies major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a press break operator. Press break operators with a Forklift Safety and Inspector certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -45,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScorePress Break OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,189

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.5

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 1.68%

Black or African American 7.93%

Hispanic or Latino 13.41%

Unknown 4.36%

White 71.84%

Gender

female 10.15%

male 89.85%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a press break operator

Explore press break operator education requirements

Most common press break operator degrees

High School Diploma

60.9 %

Associate

15.2 %

Certificate

8.2 %

Start to develop specific press break operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Operate CNC	15.59%
Calipers	13.02%
Laser Machine	7.11%
Tape Measure	6.23%
Aluminum	6.23%

Complete relevant press break operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New press break operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a press break operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real press break operator resumes.

Research press break operator duties and responsibilities

Operate conventional mill and conventional lathe machines, cold see, spot-welding & MIG & TIG.
Work as an Oasys punch machine operator and help the hot stamp and the final count for the cards.
Maintain strict quality requirements using scales, calipers and micrometers.
Press operator on misc multicolore Heidelberg and Komori presses

Prepare your press break operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your press break operator resume.

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Choose from 10+ customizable press break operator resume templates

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