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Overview
Laser cutting machine operator work is about setting up, programming and tending laser cutting machines that remove excess metal with a computer-controlled laser beam.
In job descriptions, look for blueprints, tooling instructions, CAM software, laser intensity and positioning, product quality checks, machine maintenance, production data and removal of processed or defective workpieces.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Laser cutting machine operators work close to the machine, the program and the metal workpiece. A shift may involve reading drawings, loading tools or material, setting laser parameters, watching the cut and removing finished or rejected pieces.
Skills and specializations
The strongest skill signals are blueprint reading, CAM software, geometry, cutting technology, product inspection and troubleshooting. Specialization can deepen toward particular metals, tolerances, production cells or quality-control routines.
Salary context
Salary context depends on machine complexity, tolerance demands, setup responsibility and whether the operator adjusts programs or only runs prepared jobs. Work that includes quality records, maintenance and troubleshooting usually carries broader responsibility.
Career paths
Development can move toward senior CNC operation, laser programming, production quality, maintenance coordination or team lead work in metal manufacturing. Experience with setup changes and defect analysis is useful for progression.
Good to know
Check whether adverts describe the laser type, material, tolerances, shift pattern and expected maintenance tasks. Also note if the role requires programming judgement or mainly loading, monitoring and unloading production runs.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial career context. It is not official labour-market statistics or role-specific salary data.
Map overview
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O*NET relationships
See occupations connected to this ESCO occupation in the official O*NET–ESCO mapping. The relationship type comes from the source and is not a ranking or recommendation.
O*NET relationships: 1
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4031.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETSource and method
These relationships come from the official European Commission O*NET–ESCO crosswalk.
Relationship direction: O*NET occupation to ESCO occupation.
Several O*NET occupations can point to the same ESCO occupation, and one O*NET occupation can point to several ESCO occupations.
AltoTrail preserves the source relationship type. The order is technical and does not show which occupation is best, most relevant or recommended.
AltoTrail validates and presents the source relationships without adding ranking or recommendation semantics.
Alternative labels
laser set up operative
laser set up operator
CNC laser cutting machine tender
computer numerical controlled laser cutting machine setter
computer numerical controlled laser cutting machine operator
CNC metal cutting machine worker
laser drill operative
metal cutting machine worker
CNC metal cutting machine tender
computer numerical controlled laser cutting machine worker
cnc laser cutter
laser drill set-up inspector
laser cutting technician
metal cutting machine tender
CNC metal cutting machine setter
CNC laser cutting machine operative
laser mill operator
laser cutter production operator
CNC laser cutting machine operator
laser cutter technician
CNC laser cutting machine setter
laser mill inspector
laser cutting machine set-up operative
metal cutting machine operative
laser cutting machine tender
laser mill technician
laser cutter production operative
CNC laser cutting machine worker
computer numerical controlled laser cutting machine operative
laser cutter
laser drill set-up technician
CNC laser cutting machine set-up technician
computer numerical controlled laser cutter operator
computer numerical controlled metal cutting machine setter
laser drilling operative
laser cutting machine worker
laser drill technician
laser mill operative
computer numerical controlled metal cutting machine worker
CNC metal cutting machine operative
CNC laser set-up inspector
laser cutter production worker
laser drill operator
computer numerical controlled laser cutting machine tender
laser cutter inspector
computer numerical controlled metal cutting machine tender
laser cutting machine setter
laser drill inspector
laser cutting machine set-up operator
laser cutting machine operative
metal cutting machine setter
Occupation group
computer numerical control machine operator (7223.4)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/bc6649ff-05f8-4c98-9db6-9be0d13883a9 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 7223.4.3 |
| ISCO group | 7223 |
| Concept type | Occupation |