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Date: 04/04/2025

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.

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  • Work Activities
  • Skills
  • WorkKeys®
  • Abilities
  • Knowledge
  • Career Video
  • Pay
  • Ohio Employment Trends
  • Typical Education
  • Personality
  • Tools
  • Technology
  • Tags
  • Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.
  • Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
  • Clean and polish engraved areas.
  • Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
  • Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
  • Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
  • Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
  • Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
  • Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
  • Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
  • Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
  • Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
  • Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
  • 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.
  • Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
  • Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
  • 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.
  • Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
  • Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
  • Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.
  • Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
  • Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
  • 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.
  • Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
  • Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
  • Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
  • Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
  • Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.

Work Activities

Work Activities

  • Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.
  • Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
  • Clean and polish engraved areas.
  • Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
  • Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
  • Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
  • Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
  • Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
  • Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
  • Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
  • Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
  • Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
  • Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
  • 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.
  • Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
  • Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
  • 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.
  • Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
  • Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
  • Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.
  • Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
  • Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
  • 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.
  • Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
  • Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
  • Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
  • Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
  • Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.

Skills

  • Negotiation

    Bringing people together to solve differences.

  • Mathematics

    Using math to solve problems.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Understanding people's reactions.

  • Programming

    Writing computer programs.

  • Operations Analysis

    Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

  • Active Learning

    Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

  • Repairing

    Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

  • Active Listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

  • Operation and Control

    Using equipment or systems.

  • Critical Thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • Installation

    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.

  • Operations Monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

  • Systems Analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

  • Learning Strategies

    Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.

  • Troubleshooting

    Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

  • Management of Personnel Resources

    Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

  • Science

    Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

  • Coordination

    Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

  • Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • Systems Evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • Technology Design

    Making equipment and technology useful for customers.

  • Time Management

    Managing your time and the time of other people.

  • Management of Material Resources

    Managing equipment and materials.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.

  • Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.

  • Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • Service Orientation

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • Equipment Selection

    Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.

  • Quality Control Analysis

    Testing how well a product or service works.

  • Management of Financial Resources

    Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Reading work-related information.

WorkKeys®

Applied Math
4
Workplace Documents
4
Graphic Literacy
4

Abilities

  • Dynamic Strength

    Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • Sound Localization

    Noticing the direction that a sound came from.

  • Written Expression

    Communicating by writing.

  • Fluency of Ideas

    Coming up with lots of ideas.

  • Originality

    Creating new and original ideas.

  • Time Sharing

    Doing two or more things at the same time.

  • Far Vision

    Seeing details that are far away.

  • Speech Clarity

    Speaking clearly.

  • Static Strength

    Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

  • Stamina

    Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.

  • Oral Expression

    Communicating by speaking.

  • Manual Dexterity

    Holding or moving items with your hands.

  • Multilimb Coordination

    Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • Trunk Strength

    Using your lower back and stomach.

  • Visual Color Discrimination

    Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

  • Gross Body Equilibrium

    Keeping your balance or staying upright.

  • Rate Control

    Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • Hearing Sensitivity

    Telling the difference between sounds.

  • Deductive Reasoning

    Using rules to solve problems.

  • Depth Perception

    Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.

  • Wrist-Finger Speed

    Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.

  • Finger Dexterity

    Putting together small parts with your fingers.

  • Problem Sensitivity

    Noticing when problems happen.

  • Speed of Closure

    Quickly knowing what you are looking at.

  • Number Facility

    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

  • Gross Body Coordination

    Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

  • Memorization

    Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

  • Selective Attention

    Paying attention to something without being distracted.

  • Speech Recognition

    Recognizing spoken words.

  • Perceptual Speed

    Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • Category Flexibility

    Grouping things in different ways.

  • Reaction Time

    Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

  • Spatial Orientation

    Knowing where things are around you.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    Keeping your arm or hand steady.

  • Glare Sensitivity

    Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

  • Explosive Strength

    Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

  • Peripheral Vision

    Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.

  • Flexibility of Closure

    Seeing hidden patterns.

  • Extent Flexibility

    Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Response Orientation

    Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.

  • Dynamic Flexibility

    Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Mathematical Reasoning

    Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.

  • Information Ordering

    Ordering or arranging things.

  • Control Precision

    Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • Near Vision

    Seeing details up close.

  • Oral Comprehension

    Listening and understanding what people say.

  • Visualization

    Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • Speed of Limb Movement

    Quickly moving your arms and legs.

  • Night Vision

    Seeing at night or under low light.

  • Written Comprehension

    Reading and understanding what is written.

  • Inductive Reasoning

    Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

  • Auditory Attention

    Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.

Knowledge

  • Mathematics

    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Administrative

    Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

  • Public Safety and Security

    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

  • Fine Arts

    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • Building and Construction

    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Personnel and Human Resources

    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

  • Telecommunications

    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • Foreign Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • Geography

    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Mechanical

    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • Psychology

    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

  • Design

    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • History and Archeology

    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

  • Therapy and Counseling

    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

  • Physics

    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

  • Sociology and Anthropology

    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

  • Chemistry

    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

  • English Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Economics and Accounting

    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

  • Sales and Marketing

    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • Law and Government

    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • Education and Training

    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Biology

    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

  • Administration and Management

    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Food Production

    Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

  • Philosophy and Theology

    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Transportation

    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

  • Medicine and Dentistry

    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Career Video

Additional videos and more information available on CareerOneStop

Pay

  • Typical Salary
  • $97,670
    $34,850
    $25,700
    Ohio
    US
    $61,360
    $40,040
    $29,120
  • Typical Hourly Wage
  • $47
    $17
    $12
    Ohio
    US
    $30
    $19
    $14

Ohio Employment Trends

  • Currently Employed 230
  • Yearly Projected Openings 40

Typical Education

Personality

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Dependability
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Cooperation

Tools

  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Applicator brushes
  • Arbors
  • Bench grinder
  • Bench vises
  • Binocular light compound microscopes
  • Burnisher
  • Coating machines
  • Cold chisels
  • Compasses
  • Cross and straight pein hammer
  • Drill press or radial drill
  • Engravers
  • Grinding or polishing machines
  • Horizontal turning center
  • Ink or stamp pads
  • Magnifiers
  • Magnifying lamp
  • Metal engraving machine
  • Paint systems ovens
  • Personal computers
  • Power routers
  • Precision file
  • Printed circuit board making system
  • Rulers
  • Safety glasses
  • Scribers
  • Semiconductor process systems
  • Shears
  • Shot blasting machine
  • Silk screen printing machines
  • Ultraviolet UV lamps
  • Utility knives
  • Work benches

Technology

  • Computer aided design CAD and computer aided manufacturing CAM system
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Operating system software

Tags

  • Apprenticeships are available for this occupation. These programs can help you get hands-on experience and build your skills.
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