Also called: Waterjet Operator, Abrasive Waterjet Technician
Runs machines that cut stone, metal, glass and rubber with a stream of water and sand moving three times the speed of sound.
You load a slab of granite or titanium plate onto the table, import a design, and hit start. The waterjet roars as it slices shapes no saw could make. You clean parts, check sizes, and keep the pump running.
Estimated from BLS CNC tool operators.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; trained on the job.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). CNC tool operators overall.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Nesting software and automatic loading reduce staff per machine; small job shops still need hands-on operators.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at fabrication, stone and sign shops or through a staffing agency; new hires are trained on the job
Classes: Shop class, Geometry, Drafting/CAD class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-9161.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.