All careers

Etchers and Engravers

Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.

What you’d do

  • Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
  • Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
  • Clean and polish engraved areas.

Skills that matter

  • Monitoring
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Operation and Control

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Chemical Engraver
  • Engraver
  • Etcher
  • Photo Engraver
  • Acid Etch Operator
  • Award Machine Operator
See all careers
  • Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

    Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

    Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Tool and Die Makers

    Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one