Guidance.help

Etchers and Engravers

In the Etchers and Engravers occupation, workers engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on reading comprehension, operations monitoring, and monitoring. The job can ask you to inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (6.5 of 7), then Artistic (3.8) and Conventional, which gives it the code RAC. Expect to examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.

What they do

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

Main 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.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Monitoring
  • Speaking
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Operation and Control

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You want room to make something in your own way.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and operations monitoring.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RAC takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Acid Etch Operator
  • Award Machine Operator
  • Chemical Engraver
  • Electronic Engraver
  • Engraver

Related careers

Is this your direction?

See how your interests line up with RAC and 906 other careers.

Take the career test

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.