Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4034BLS OEWS May 2025
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
National median · BLS
$50,620
▲ +4.11%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$52,490
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
16,710
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$36,670
25th
$43,250
Median (50th)
$50,620
75th
$60,700
90th — top pay
$69,700
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
BLS projects employment of lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to decline 11.3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
16,700 → 14,800
-1,900 jobs
Projected change
-11.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.5
Operation and Control3.4
Active Listening3.0
Equipment Maintenance3.0
Monitoring3.0
Quality Control Analysis3.0
Reading Comprehension3.0
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Speaking2.8
Time Management2.8
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing4.0
Mechanical3.6
Engineering and Technology3.6
Education and Training3.3
Administration and Management3.3
Customer and Personal Service3.3
English Language3.2
Mathematics3.1
Software and technology used
Autodesk HSMWorksComputer numerical control CNC editor softwareG-codeInventory tracking softwareM-code
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.
Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.
Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.
Also called
CNC Lathe Operator (Computer Numerical Control Lathe Operator)Lathe OperatorMachine OperatorSetup OperatorCNC Setup Operator (Computer Numerical Control Setup Operator)Numerical Control Operator (NC Operator)Screw Machine OperatorScrew Machine Tool SetterTurn Operator
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $50,620.
