| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Clean work area. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools. |
Computer and Networking Technology Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for Computer and Networking Technology Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For people who want to work with physical IT infrastructure and networks rather than writing code. Use the tools below to see which computer and networking technology roles fit your background and goals.
This major is hands-on/infrastructure-focused (hardware, networks) rather than software-development-focused. Use the tools below to explore Computer and Networking Technology-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like IT Support Technician, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Network Administrator or IT Manager. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as CompTIA Network+ / CCNA, that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Computer and Networking Technology careers/jobs, (2) Find Computer and Networking Technology job listings, (3) Prepare for Computer and Networking Technology careers, and (4) Provide Computer and Networking Technology career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Computer and Networking Technology careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Computer and Networking Technology Careers - 2025 to 2035 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Computer and Networking Technology careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Computer and Networking Technology, so relevant Computer and Networking Technology jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Computer and Networking Technology Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Computer and Networking Technology Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Computer and Networking Technology careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 37 Computer and Networking Technology Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job
13 Computer and Networking Technology careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2025 to 2035 est.). Computer and Networking Technology-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035 (% change) | Computer and Networking Technology-Related Jobs |
15 Computer and Networking Technology careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Computer and Networking Technology-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | Computer and Networking Technology-Related Jobs |
15 Computer and Networking Technology careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Computer and Networking Technology-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
|
Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
||
| Occupations | Education/Preparation | Computer and Networking Technology-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 37 specific Computer and Networking Technology job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Description: Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic":
U.S. Total Employment (2025):
171,000U.S. Total Employment (2035 est.):
153,100
Employment Change (2025-2035 est.):
-17,900 (-10.5%) Average Annual Job Openings (2025-2035 est.):
13,200
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Clean and lubricate machines. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Turn valves to start flow of coolant against cutting areas or to start airflow that blows cuttings away from kerfs. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Position guides, stops, holding blocks, or other fixtures to secure and direct workpieces, using hand tools and measuring devices. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Mark identifying data on workpieces. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Position, align, and secure workpieces against fixtures or stops on machine beds or on dies. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools. |
| Importance: 59 (%) | Description: Lubricate workpieces with oil. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Scribe reference lines on workpieces as guides for cutting operations, according to blueprints, templates, sample parts, or specifications. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Plan sequences of operations, applying knowledge of physical properties of workpiece materials. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Set stops on machine beds, change dies, and adjust components, such as rams or power presses, when making multiple or successive passes. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Adjust ram strokes of presses to specified lengths, using hand tools. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Replace defective blades or wheels, using hand tools. |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Sharpen dulled blades, using bench grinders, abrasive wheels, or lathes. |
| Importance: 50 (%) | Description: Remove housings, feed tubes, tool holders, or other accessories to replace worn or broken parts, such as springs or bushings. |
| Importance: 49 (%) | Description: Place workpieces on cutting tables, manually or using hoists, cranes, or sledges. |
| Importance: 48 (%) | Description: Operate forklifts to deliver materials. |
| Importance: 45 (%) | Description: Grind out burrs or sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, or polishing jacks. |
| Importance: 41 (%) | Description: Use equipment designed to join sheet metal, such as spot welders. |
| Importance: 40 (%) | Description: Select, clean, and install spacers, rubber sleeves, or cutters on arbors. |
| Importance: 39 (%) | Description: Preheat workpieces, using heating furnaces or hand torches. |
| Importance: 34 (%) | Description: Hone cutters with oilstones to remove nicks. |
| Importance: 29 (%) | Description: Set blade tensions, heights, and angles to perform prescribed cuts, using wrenches. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow. | |
| Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly. | |
| Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces. | |
| Braze metal parts or components. | |
| Clean production equipment. | |
| Clean work areas. | |
| Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair. | |
| Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references. | |
| Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production. | |
| Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products. | |
| Inspect production equipment. | |
| Load materials into production equipment. | |
| Lubricate production equipment. | |
| Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. | |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed. | |
| Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. | |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | |
| Operate cutting equipment. | |
| Operate forklifts or other loaders. | |
| Operate grinding equipment. | |
| Operate metal or plastic forming equipment. | |
| Operate welding equipment. | |
| Plan production or operational procedures or sequences. | |
| Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements. | |
| Record operational or production data. | |
| Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment. | |
| Replace worn equipment components. | |
| Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. | |
| Select production equipment according to product specifications. | |
| Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications. | |
| Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures. | |
| Sharpen cutting or grinding tools. | |
| Smooth metal surfaces or edges. | |
| Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading. | |
| Weld metal components. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance. |
| Activity: Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas. |
| Activity: Disassemble equipment. |
| Activity: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment. |
| Activity: Inspect completed work or finished products. |
| Activity: Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques. |
| Activity: Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Maintain tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Mark materials or objects for identification. |
| Activity: Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment. |
| Activity: Monitor equipment operation. |
| Activity: Operate cutting or grinding equipment. |
| Activity: Operate industrial processing or production equipment. |
| Activity: Operate lifting or moving equipment. |
| Activity: Plan work activities. |
| Activity: Position materials or components for assembly. |
| Activity: Position workpieces or materials on equipment. |
| Activity: Prepare industrial materials for processing or use. |
| Activity: Read documents or materials to inform work processes. |
| Activity: Repair tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects. |
| Activity: Set up equipment. |
| Activity: Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment. |
| Activity: Sort materials or products. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
| Emerging Tech Skills |
| Computer aided design CAD software: |
| Autodesk AutoCAD |
| Electronic mail software: |
| Microsoft Outlook |
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: |
| SAP software |
| Office suite software: |
| Microsoft Office software |
| Spreadsheet software: |
| Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software: |
| Microsoft Word |
| General Software Tools |
| Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: |
| Striker Systems SS-Punch |
| Data base user interface and query software: |
| Operational databases |
| Industrial control software: |
| Computerized numerical control CNC software |
| Inventory management software: |
| Automated inventory software |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 63.4 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 34.9 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.9 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.9 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 48.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 25.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 11.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 10.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Up to and including 1 month |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
|
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Level 1 - Welding
| |
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Press Brake Level II - CNC Punch (Turret) Press Level II
| |
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Press Brake Level II - Operate Non-CNC Drive Press Brake Skills II
| |
|
Press Brake Level III - Set Up and Operate CNC Drive III
| |
|
Press Brake Level III - Set Up and Operate Non-CNC Mechanical III
| |
Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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