Metalworking Machine Operators
Job description
These individuals shape sheet metal or steel parts to create metal shapes. They work for:
- Sheet metal shops
- Shipyards
- Manufacturers of sheet metal or light metal products
- Structural, boiler, and sheet steel manufacturers
- Heavy machinery manufacturers
- Metal products manufacturers
- Machinery and transportation equipment manufacturers
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Odours
- Hazardous workplaces
- Noise
- Falling objects
Main tasks
Light and Heavy Metalworking Machine Operators
- Prepare, adjust, and operate machinery or equipment.
- Weld, bolt, screw, or rivet metal parts.
- Check the conformity of the products (shape, dimensions, etc.).
- Investigate the cause of problems and carry out minor repairs.
- Select and transport the material to the workplace.
- Document the work completed, as required.
- Construct and erect, as required, platforms or scaffolding according to the work to be done.
- Clean and lubricate machinery and replace defective parts, as required.
Forming Machine Operators
- Set the ovens to the desired temperature.
- Place the parts in the oven and remove them when the colour of the metal indicates that it has reached the desired temperature.
- Operate presses or other hot or cold forging machines to shape or form metal.
- Place and adjust dies on the anvil of forming machines, as required.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to senior or supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $20.00
- Median
- $26.32
- Maximum
- $35.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
3,500
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 11.6% Female
- 88.4% Male
Not available.
- 11.6% Female
- 88.4% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$43,200
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 33237% of jobs
-
NAICS 33311% of jobs
-
NAICS 419% of jobs
-
NAICS 3318% of jobs
-
NAICS 336 [excluding 3364]7% of jobs
-
Others28% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 33237% of jobs
-
NAICS 33311% of jobs
-
NAICS 419% of jobs
-
NAICS 3318% of jobs
-
NAICS 336 [excluding 3364]7% of jobs
-
Others28% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in ferblanterie
Code : 5360
Placement rate: 93.9%
4.3% of graduates pursue further studies
WAP
This occupation is targeted by a Workplace Apprenticeship Program
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Monitoring operations
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
- Operations and control
- Information processing
- Quality control analysis
- Coordination
- Oral expression
- Time management
- Critical thought
Abilities
- Control accuracy
- Near vision
- Oral comprehension
- Manual dexterity
- Awareness of issues
- Hand-arm stability
- Speech clarity
- Limb coordination
- Verbal skills
- Selective attention
- Classification
- Digital dexterity
- Core strength
- Static muscle power
- Information organization
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Perception speed
- Speech recognition
- Processing flexibility
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Capacity to work in a team
- Knowledge of production and treatment
- Rigour
- Assiduity and punctuality
- Sense of observation
- Tolerance to routine work
- Timeliness
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
Official name of the NOC 94105
Metalworking and forging machine operators
Job titles
- Sheet Metal Machine Set-Up Operator
- Sheet metal cutter - metal fabrication
- Sheet-metal-working machine operator - metal products manufacturing
- Metalworking machine operator
- Burning machine operator - metal fabrication
- Metalworking machine set-up man/woman
- Straightener hand - metal fabrication
- Drop forge hand
- Hoop bender
- Forging machine operator group leader
- Musical instrument tube bender
- Shearer - metal working
- Aluminum sheet trimmer - ductwork
- Hot press operator
- Restrike hammer operator - metal forging
- Cage builder - metal fabrication
- Acetylene torch operator - metal fabrication
- Arc cutter - metal fabrication
- Laser cutter - metal fabrication
- Pantograph burner - metal fabrication
- Aluminum sheet cutter - metal fabrication
- Aluminum sheet cutter - ductwork
- Plate burner - metal fabrication
- Lead fabricator
- Ornamental metal worker - metal fabrication
- Tubular metal products fabricator
- Leaf spring maker - metal fabrication
- Threader - metal products manufacturing
- Drop forger
- Drop hammer forger
- Sheet metal fabrication inspector
- Metal parts inspector
- Leaf spring inspector
- Automatic cut-off operator - metal fabrication
- Heater operator - metal forging
- Bending machine operator
- Rod-bending machine operator - metal fabrication
- Pipe-bending machine operator - metal fabrication
- Shear operator
- Shear operator - metal fabrication
- Angle shear operator - metal fabrication
- Power shear operator - metal fabrication
- Plate shear operator - metal fabrication
- Rotary shear operator - metal fabrication
- Flying shear operator - metal fabrication
- Rolling machine operator - metal forging
- Steel shot machine operator
- Roll operator - metal fabrication
- Sheet metal roll operator - metal fabrication
- Forging roll operator
- Ring mill operator - metal forging
- Vertical roll operator - metal fabrication
- Disc flanging operator - metal fabrication
- Expanding machine operator - metal products manufacturing
- Cold drawn operator
- Hoop-maker machine operator - metal fabrication
- Metal fabricating machine operator
- Forging machine operator
- Sheet-metal-embossing machine operator
- Nibbling machine operator - metal fabrication
- Corrugator sheet metal operator
- Bending machine tender - metal fabrication
- Upsetter operator
- Metal sawing machine operator
- Flame cutting machine operator - metal fabrication
- Magnetic flame cutting machine operator - metal fabrication
- Manipulator operator
- Forge manipulator operator
- Hammer driver - forging
- Impact hammer operator - metal forging
- Trip hammer operator
- Steam hammer operator - metal forging
- Dual action hammer operator - metal forging
- Air hammer operator - metal forging
- Forging air hammer operator
- Drop hammer operator - metal forging
- Board drop hammer operator
- Duplicator punch operator - metal fabrication
- Punch press operator
- Punch and shear machine operator - metal fabrication
- Power press operator
- Bending press operator - metal fabrication
- Straightening press operator - metal fabrication
- Drop forge operator
- Drop forge operator - metal forging
- Metal-stamping press operator
- Forging press operator
- Forming machine operator - metal fabrication
- Strip-roll-forming machine operator - metal fabrication
- Cold press operator
- Impression die press operator - metal fabrication
- Punch press operator - metal fabrication
- Multiple punch press operator - metal fabrication
- Hydraulic press operator - metal fabrication
- Computer numerically controlled (cnc) brake press operator
- Mechanical press operator - metal products manufacturing
- Power brake operator - metal fabrication
- Turret punch press operator - metal fabrication
- Vertical press operator
- Vertical press operator - metal fabrication
- Bending roll operator - metal fabrication
- Metal table saw operator
- Machine power saw operator
- Saw operator - metal fabrication
- Metal power saw operator
- Burning table operator - metal fabrication
- Turret press operator
- Metal cut-off saw operator
- Automatic cut-off saw operator - metal products manufacturing
- Sheet metal corrugator
- Slide forming machine tender - metal fabrication
- Metal-forming machine tender
- Bending machine tender - metal products manufacturing
- Sheet-metal-working machine tender - metal fabrication
- Forging press tender
- Multi-operation forming machine tender
- Strip-roll-forming machine tender - metal fabrication
- Sheet metal brake tender
- Roll forger
- Power shear tender - metal fabrication
- Forming roll tender - metal fabrication
- Heavy forger
- Press tender - pierce and shave
- Flame cutting tracer machine operator - metal fabrication
- Pantograph flame cutter - metal fabrication
- Puncher and shearer - metal products manufacturing
- Slide forming machine set-up operator
- Metal-forming machine set-up operator
- Bender set-up operator - metal products manufacturing
- Sheet-metal-working machine set-up operator
- Metalworking machine set-up operator
- Buffing machine set-up operator - metal fabrication
- Heavy-duty press set-up operator - metal fabrication
- Power press set-up operator - metal fabrication
- Computer numerically controlled (cnc) brake press set-up operator
- Forming roll set-up operator - metal fabrication
- Turret press set-up operator
- Shear setter - metal fabrication
- Slide forming machine setter - metal fabrication
- Forging machine set-up man/woman
- Roll-forming machine setter - metalworking
- Flame hardening machine setter
- Buffing line setter
- Straight line press setter - metal fabrication
- Punch press setter - metalworking
- Brake setter - metalworking
- Vehicle spring repairer - metal forging
- Metal spinner
- Sheet metal spinner - metal fabrication
- Lay-out marker - metal products manufacturing
Skill type
Manufacturing and utilities
Last update: January 29, 2026
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