Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Career Profile
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.
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The Daily Work of Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Take On?
The core tasks performed by lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Automatic Screwmaker
- Automatic Spinning Lathe Operator
- Automatic Spinning Lathe Setter
- Axle Turner
- Back Facer
- Balance Recesser
- Balance Wheel Facer
- Bar Pointer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 709,023 lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.6% over the projection horizon.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $39,758 |
| Hourly median | $19.11 |
| 10th percentile | $24,636 |
| 25th percentile | $32,197 |
| 75th percentile | $47,319 |
| 90th percentile | $54,880 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maine | $62,120 |
| Colorado | $59,850 |
| Massachusetts | $59,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,910 |
| Washington | $57,840 |
| Minnesota | $57,820 |
| Nebraska | $57,640 |
| Utah | $57,500 |
| New Jersey | $55,810 |
| Maryland | $55,680 |
| Illinois | $55,620 |
| Arizona | $52,620 |
| Indiana | $52,190 |
| West Virginia | $51,980 |
| Wisconsin | $51,540 |
| Vermont | $50,840 |
| North Carolina | $50,580 |
| New Hampshire | $50,010 |
| New York | $49,650 |
| Louisiana | $48,920 |
| Iowa | $48,780 |
| Ohio | $47,890 |
| Connecticut | $47,860 |
| California | $47,660 |
| Missouri | $47,560 |
| Texas | $47,450 |
| Alabama | $47,060 |
| Florida | $46,490 |
| Michigan | $46,470 |
| Tennessee | $46,400 |
| Georgia | $45,510 |
| South Carolina | $44,980 |
| Kansas | $44,310 |
| Nevada | $43,260 |
| Kentucky | $43,090 |
| Rhode Island | $40,230 |
| Oklahoma | $39,110 |
| Arkansas | $38,160 |
| Virginia | $37,940 |
| Mississippi | $31,480 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $59,066 | 0.8% | 0.28 |
| Middle Atlantic | $54,441 | 9.7% | 0.77 |
| New England | $52,008 | 8.2% | 2.53 |
| Great Lakes | $50,325 | 33.5% | 2.55 |
| Plains States | $50,244 | 5.1% | 0.93 |
| Far Western US | $47,755 | 12.7% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $47,323 | 13.5% | 1.15 |
| Southeast | $45,470 | 16.4% | 1.31 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | CO | $71,150 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | PA | $64,410 | 330 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $62,920 | 130 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $62,080 | 90 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $59,980 | 250 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $59,450 | 250 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $59,440 | 330 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | NE | $58,060 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
Most lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 18,000 | $48,610 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 520 | $47,830 |
| Construction | 180 | $48,090 |
| Wholesale Trade | 150 | $47,460 |
Below are examples of industries where lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work:
Tools and Technology
- Industrial control software: Autodesk HSMWorks
- Industrial control software: Computer numerical control CNC editor software
- Object or component oriented development software: G-code
- Inventory management software: Inventory tracking software
- Object or component oriented development software: M-code
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Entry-level lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic often complete programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-4034.00 (Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic).
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