Etchers and engravers
SOC Code: 51-9194
Etchers and engravers carries a 34% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $40,450 and -0.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 8,600 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Etchers and engravers (SOC 51-9194) carries an AI exposure score of 34%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 8,600 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -0.7% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $40,450, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Etchers and engravers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
- 2. Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel.
- 3. Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
- 4. Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
- 5. Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
- 6. Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
- 7. Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
- 8. Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
- 9. Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
- 10. Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Operation and Control
- Quality Control Analysis
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Design
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Administrative
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Etchers and engravers?
Etchers and engravers has an AI exposure score of 34%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Etchers and engravers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Etchers and engravers is projected to decline by 0.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 8,600 workers.
What skills are needed for Etchers and engravers?
Key skills for Etchers and engravers include Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Etchers and engravers earn?
The median annual wage for Etchers and engravers is $40,450, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Etchers and engravers?
The typical entry-level education for Etchers and engravers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Etchers and engravers?
Etchers and engravers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).