Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender

Find Schools Near

What Do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender Do?

Job Description: 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.

List of Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Job Duties

  • Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
  • Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
  • Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
  • Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces.
  • Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.

What Every Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Should Know

Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Planer Operator
  • Barrel Turner
  • Turn Operator
  • Nut Threader
  • Lathe Machine Operator

Job Demand for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

In the United States, there were 33,700 jobs for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,900 job openings in this field each year.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator are Alabama, Utah, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, West Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Make?

The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $26,000 and $59,960.

undefined

Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Massachusetts, Oregon, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.

How much do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $35,440
Arizona $47,100
Arkansas $36,310
California $40,280
Colorado $34,110
Connecticut $46,110
Florida $37,560
Georgia $36,310
Illinois $42,540
Indiana $41,180
Iowa $41,340
Kansas $39,560
Kentucky $43,950
Louisiana $43,650
Maine $33,760
Maryland $36,060
Massachusetts $50,760
Michigan $38,830
Minnesota $41,440
Mississippi $34,760
Missouri $42,720
Montana $31,790
Nebraska $39,500
Nevada $41,430
New Hampshire $38,980
New Jersey $44,030
New York $40,720
North Carolina $47,200
Ohio $40,190
Oklahoma $41,100
Oregon $54,150
Pennsylvania $41,390
Rhode Island $44,830
South Carolina $45,310
South Dakota $37,310
Tennessee $36,040
Texas $40,200
Utah $47,130
Vermont $38,570
Virginia $38,470
Washington $45,070
West Virginia $42,270
Wisconsin $41,710

What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:

  • Inventory tracking software
  • G-code
  • M-code
  • Autodesk HSMWorks

How to Become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator

Are there Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders education requirements?

undefined

What work experience do I need to become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator?

undefined

Where Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Are Employed

undefined

Below are examples of industries where Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:

undefined

Those thinking about becoming a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender might also be interested in the following careers:

Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.