Production
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.
Median pay
$43,310
Growth to 2035
−1%
little or no change
Openings a year
800
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Etchers and engravers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Etchers and engravers: 33% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Acid Etch Operator · Award Machine Operator · Chemical Engraver · Electronic Engraver · Engraver · Etcher · Laser Engraver · Photo Engraver
Outlook and AI
Etchers and engravers held 8,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 8,800 by 2035 (−1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Etchers and engravers vs. Painting, coating, and decorating workers
- Etchers and engravers vs. Patternmakers, metal and plastic
- Etchers and engravers vs. Grinding and polishing workers, hand
- Etchers and engravers vs. Tool and die makers
- Etchers and engravers vs. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Etchers and engravers vs. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Etchers and engravers vs. Prepress technicians and workers
- Etchers and engravers vs. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Etchers and engravers vs. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic