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Metal press workers

How to become a Metal Press Operator

Also called: Punch press operator, Metal press forming worker, Drawing press operator, Press brake operator, Press stamping worker, Press forming worker, Bending press operator, Metal press equipment operator

Fits dies into press machines and applies pressure to metal sheets to shape them into many different forms.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Many people join after finishing high school or similar. There is also mid-career recruitment from other jobs. As automation has increased, part-time workers are also hired. Most new school leavers find jobs through their school or Hello Work (public employment service). Mid-career hiring is done through Hello Work, newspapers and job advertisements. A related qualification is the metal press working technician grade of the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. National qualifications gained by completing skills courses, such as press machine work chief and pollution control manager, are also an advantage. You can gain these after several years of experience as a metal press operator, once you know the work well. You need concentration when operating machines, an interest in the work and a keen attitude to suggesting improvements.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Metal Press Operator?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Many people join after finishing high school or similar. There is also mid-career recruitment from other jobs. As automation has increased, part-time workers are also hired. Most new school leavers find jobs through their school or Hello Work (public employment service). Mid-career hiring is done through Hello Work, newspapers and job advertisements. A related qualification is the metal press working technician grade of the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. National qualifications gained by completing skills courses, such as press machine work chief and pollution control manager, are also an advantage. You can gain these after several years of experience as a metal press operator, once you know the work well. You need concentration when operating machines, an interest in the work and a keen attitude to suggesting improvements.

How much does a Metal Press Operator earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,580,500 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do you need a degree to become a Metal Press Operator?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 9% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Metal Press Operator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026