Etchers and Engravers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for etchers and engravers in the U.S. is $43,310 ($20.82 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $43,310
- Mean annual wage
- $46,320
- Median hourly wage
- $20.82
- Employment
- 7,750
7,750 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,210 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Median (50th) | $43,310 | $20.82 |
| 75th percentile | $53,050 | $25.51 |
| 90th percentile | $63,360 | $30.46 |
Highest-paying states for etchers and engravers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $65,380 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $63,250 | 30 |
| Arizona | $59,940 | — |
| New Jersey | $58,000 | 60 |
| Maryland | $53,680 | 110 |
| Kansas | $52,000 | 40 |
| New York | $51,540 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $50,710 | 320 |
| Ohio | $50,430 | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $50,290 | 390 |
Lowest-paying states
- South Carolina: $28,300 median annual wage
- Alabama: $31,030 median annual wage
- Texas: $31,180 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $32,880 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $35,890 median annual wage
About this occupation
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Typical tasks
- Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
- Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
- Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
- Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
- Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
- 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.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 8.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 43.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 24.9% |
| Associate's degree | 5.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 16.8% |
| Master's degree | 0.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.