Etchers and Engravers
Etchers and Engravers (SOC 51-9194) earn a median $43,310 a year ($20.82 an hour) in the United States, with 7,750 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Vermont.
What etchers and engravers do
Etchers and engravers cut designs, lettering, and patterns into the surface of metal, wood, rubber, and other materials. The SOC definition includes etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers. The worker studies sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how the design should be etched, cut, or engraved. Pantograph engraving is one of the methods named in the definition. Afterward, the work is inspected for depth, uniformity, and defects using calibrated microscopes, gauges, magnifying lenses, or touch, and the engraved area is cleaned and polished. Titles listed, such as bowling ball engraver, show how varied the items can be. The occupation is defined by the engraving and etching process rather than by the product, so the items worked on vary widely. Photoengravers are counted with prepress technicians.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Acid Etch Operator, Award Machine Operator, Block Engraver, Bowling Ball Engraver, Chemical Engraver.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.49 | $17.98 | $20.82 | $25.51 | $30.46 | $22.27 | 7,750 |
| Annual | $32,210 | $37,400 | $43,310 | $53,050 | $63,360 | $46,320 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where etchers and engravers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $17.51 | $18.79 | $31.43 | $33.50 | $34.83 | $27.38 | 40 | 0.15 | 2.90 |
| Annual | $36,430 | $39,070 | $65,380 | $69,670 | $72,440 | $56,960 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $20.31 | $25.36 | $30.41 | $31.14 | $36.13 | $28.63 | 30 | 0.07 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $42,240 | $52,740 | $63,250 | $64,780 | $75,160 | $59,560 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $18.02 | $18.39 | $28.82 | $31.07 | $32.55 | $26.26 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,490 | $38,240 | $59,940 | $64,630 | $67,700 | $54,620 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $23.60 | $25.64 | $27.89 | $33.28 | $58.03 | $32.30 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $49,080 | $53,330 | $58,000 | $69,220 | $120,690 | $67,190 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $19.30 | $21.33 | $25.81 | $27.78 | $29.00 | $24.74 | 110 | 0.04 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $40,140 | $44,370 | $53,680 | $57,770 | $60,330 | $51,460 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.70 | $19.84 | $22.34 | $28.43 | $35.82 | $24.59 | 1,040 | 0.06 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $38,890 | $41,260 | $46,480 | $59,140 | $74,510 | $51,150 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $10.32 | $10.32 | $14.99 | $18.70 | $24.04 | $15.40 | 630 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $21,470 | $21,470 | $31,180 | $38,900 | $50,010 | $32,030 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.14 | $18.14 | $24.78 | $29.10 | $29.10 | $25.91 | 520 | 0.05 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $37,720 | $37,740 | $51,540 | $60,520 | $60,520 | $53,890 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $17.47 | $18.69 | $20.76 | $23.00 | $36.05 | $23.05 | 390 | 0.09 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $36,340 | $38,870 | $43,180 | $47,840 | $74,990 | $47,940 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $18.30 | $21.06 | $24.18 | $29.58 | $36.56 | $25.98 | 390 | 0.13 | 2.65 |
| Annual | $38,060 | $43,800 | $50,290 | $61,520 | $76,050 | $54,030 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $18.00 | $18.28 | $31.07 | $31.07 | $34.15 | $25.95 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,440 | $38,020 | $64,630 | $64,630 | $71,030 | $53,980 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $18.50 | $20.82 | $30.70 | $36.37 | $36.38 | $29.67 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,480 | $43,300 | $63,860 | $75,650 | $75,660 | $61,710 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $18.70 | $21.12 | $30.09 | $35.64 | $35.64 | $27.06 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,890 | $43,930 | $62,580 | $74,140 | $74,140 | $56,290 | ||||
| Green Bay, WI | Hourly | $23.86 | $23.87 | $29.19 | $36.04 | $37.22 | $29.43 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $49,630 | $49,650 | $60,720 | $74,970 | $77,410 | $61,220 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.14 | $18.14 | $27.90 | $29.10 | $33.28 | $27.65 | 430 | 0.05 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $37,720 | $37,740 | $58,020 | $60,520 | $69,220 | $57,520 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.83 | $20.22 | $21.89 | $28.85 | $36.05 | $24.62 | 500 | 0.08 | 1.61 |
| Annual | $39,170 | $42,050 | $45,520 | $60,000 | $74,990 | $51,210 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.14 | $18.14 | $27.90 | $29.10 | $33.28 | $27.65 | 430 | 0.05 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $37,720 | $37,740 | $58,020 | $60,520 | $69,220 | $57,520 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 330 | 0.08 | 1.64 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $18.07 | $21.10 | $24.75 | $27.58 | $22.15 | 240 | 0.05 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $37,580 | $43,880 | $51,480 | $57,360 | $46,070 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $19.63 | $22.82 | $24.38 | $28.18 | $29.91 | $25.44 | 230 | 0.08 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $40,830 | $47,460 | $50,710 | $58,620 | $62,200 | $52,920 | ||||
Top industries employing etchers and engravers
Other Miscellaneous Retailers employ 18.1% of etchers and engravers nationally (1,400 jobs) at a median $37,740 a year ($18.14 an hour), followed by Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing (12.9%) and Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (11.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers NAICS 459900 | 1,400 | 18.1% | $37,740 | $18.14 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing NAICS 339900 | 1,000 | 12.9% | $43,690 | $21.01 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities NAICS 332800 | 910 | 11.7% | $45,520 | $21.89 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing NAICS 327000 | 570 | 7.4% | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities NAICS 323100 | 380 | 4.9% | $44,320 | $21.31 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (7,750). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,590 for etchers and engravers in May 2021 and $43,310 in May 2025, with employment of 7,110 and 7,750.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,590 | $17.59 | 7,110 |
| May 2022 | $37,980 | $18.26 | 8,400 |
| May 2023 | $40,040 | $19.25 | 8,140 |
| May 2024 | $40,450 | $19.45 | 8,390 |
| May 2025 | $43,310 | $20.82 | 7,750 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
37 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont profile | $31.43 | $65,380 | $36,430 | $72,440 | 40 | 0.15 | 2.90 |
| 2 | Rhode Island profile | $30.41 | $63,250 | $42,240 | $75,160 | 30 | 0.07 | 1.35 |
| 3 | Arizona profile | $28.82 | $59,940 | $37,490 | $67,700 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $27.89 | $58,000 | $49,080 | $120,690 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $25.81 | $53,680 | $40,140 | $60,330 | 110 | 0.04 | 0.81 |
| 6 | Kansas profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $15,080 | $53,740 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.60 |
| 7 | New York profile | $24.78 | $51,540 | $37,720 | $60,520 | 520 | 0.05 | 1.08 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | $24.38 | $50,710 | $40,830 | $62,200 | 320 | 0.09 | 1.77 |
| 9 | Ohio profile | $24.25 | $50,430 | $36,290 | $75,650 | 320 | 0.06 | 1.14 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | $24.18 | $50,290 | $38,060 | $76,050 | 390 | 0.13 | 2.65 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.98 | $47,790 | $34,290 | $57,410 | 260 | 0.04 | 0.87 |
| 12 | Maine profile | $22.85 | $47,520 | $35,050 | $63,010 | 70 | 0.11 | 2.26 |
| 13 | Arkansas profile | $22.49 | $46,780 | $36,450 | $57,280 | 180 | 0.14 | 2.76 |
| 14 | California profile | $22.34 | $46,480 | $38,890 | $74,510 | 1,040 | 0.06 | 1.15 |
| 15 | Minnesota profile | $22.25 | $46,280 | $32,420 | $60,640 | 210 | 0.07 | 1.40 |
| 16 | Connecticut profile | $21.66 | $45,050 | $36,610 | $57,690 | 140 | 0.08 | 1.69 |
| 17 | Indiana profile | $21.33 | $44,360 | $28,380 | $63,410 | 170 | 0.05 | 1.08 |
| 18 | Washington profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $39,230 | $63,880 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $20.89 | $43,450 | $31,200 | $62,410 | 330 | 0.05 | 1.09 |
| 20 | Michigan profile | $20.76 | $43,180 | $36,340 | $74,990 | 390 | 0.09 | 1.75 |
| 21 | Iowa profile | $20.65 | $42,950 | $37,580 | $54,770 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.95 |
| 22 | Idaho profile | $20.50 | $42,640 | $31,520 | $46,480 | 50 | 0.06 | 1.12 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $20.25 | $42,110 | $34,790 | $64,700 | 200 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 24 | Colorado profile | $19.62 | $40,800 | $33,980 | $60,560 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.33 |
| 25 | South Dakota profile | $19.52 | $40,590 | $32,210 | $57,570 | 60 | 0.12 | 2.47 |
| 26 | Georgia profile | $19.32 | $40,190 | $30,970 | $104,100 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.24 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $18.92 | $39,360 | $29,250 | $59,080 | 160 | 0.04 | 0.80 |
| 28 | North Carolina profile | $18.88 | $39,270 | $31,210 | $50,760 | ** | ** | ** |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $18.38 | $38,230 | $34,510 | $57,480 | 300 | 0.09 | 1.84 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $18.27 | $37,990 | $33,330 | $42,640 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.56 |
| 31 | Oregon profile | $18.16 | $37,780 | $34,320 | $46,760 | 220 | 0.11 | 2.26 |
| 32 | Kentucky profile | $17.57 | $36,540 | $32,920 | $40,000 | 250 | 0.13 | 2.55 |
| 33 | Oklahoma profile | $17.26 | $35,890 | $32,210 | $44,410 | 110 | 0.06 | 1.26 |
| 34 | Louisiana profile | $15.81 | $32,880 | $28,610 | $42,640 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| 35 | Texas profile | $14.99 | $31,180 | $21,470 | $50,010 | 630 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| 36 | Alabama profile | $14.92 | $31,030 | $25,770 | $45,790 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.59 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $13.61 | $28,300 | $21,080 | $58,420 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.45 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-9190), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-9194 Etchers and Engravers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-9194, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-9194.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.