Punch operator vs press operator

The differences between punch operators and 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 punch operator and a press operator. Additionally, a press operator has an average salary of $34,568, which is higher than the $33,046 average annual salary of a punch operator.

The top three skills for a punch operator include quality checks, calipers and punch machine. The most important skills for a press operator are quality standards, press machine, and quality checks.

Punch operator vs press operator overview

	Punch Operator	Press Operator
Yearly salary	$33,046	$34,568
Hourly rate	$15.89	$16.62
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	44,679	55,215
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 51%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

Punch operator vs press operator salary

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

	Punch Operator	Press Operator
Average salary	$33,046	$34,568
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $44,000	Between $27,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	-	Westfield, MA
Highest paying state	-	New Hampshire
Best paying company	-	ProAmpac
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between punch operator and press operator education

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

	Punch Operator	Press Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 51%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Punch operator vs press operator demographics

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

	Punch Operator	Press Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 79.2% Female, 20.8%	Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4%
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 punch operator and press operator duties and responsibilities

Punch operator example responsibilities.

Set up and run cnc amada turret punch presses and sharpen own tooling, and do minor adjustments to program
Operate Amada Apelio, Vipros, EMLK, FOM2 3015NT, FOM2 RI 3015 NT and Trumpf 2030.
Measure thickness of material with calipers and micrometers while sanding to keep material within allowable tolerances.
Dye setting and machine set up.

Press operator example responsibilities.

Work on the assembly line making tire covers for Honda and Toyota.
Maintain SPC records using a bore gauge and calipers.
Ensure quality of parts produce per ISO-9000 standards through the use of calipers, micrometers, and several custom-made gauges.
Maintain strict quality requirements using scales, calipers and micrometers.
Adjust colors to become PMS accurate, with gradations.
Assist fab with mig welding.

Punch operator vs press operator skills

Common punch operator skills

Quality Checks, 32%
Calipers, 19%
Punch Machine, 16%
CNC, 11%
Punch Press, 7%
ISO, 5%

Common press operator skills

Quality Standards, 12%
Press Machine, 9%
Quality Checks, 8%
Preventative Maintenance, 8%
Safety Guidelines, 5%
Digital Press, 4%