Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Mean (average) | $52,490 | $25.24 |
| 90th percentile | $69,700 | $33.51 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 36 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,490 | $41,560 | $74,970 | 100 | 0.45 |
| Arizona | $55,840 | $50,470 | $80,300 | 110 | 0.33 |
| Arkansas | $39,060 | $31,860 | $51,410 | 190 | 1.33 |
| California | $60,180 | $43,480 | $79,690 | 2,600 | 1.33 |
| Colorado | $71,670 | $56,230 | $91,160 | 150 | 0.49 |
| Connecticut | $49,380 | $36,770 | $77,440 | 690 | 3.79 |
| Florida | $44,710 | $38,940 | $54,500 | 140 | 0.13 |
| Georgia | $50,180 | $39,720 | $62,300 | 100 | 0.19 |
| Illinois | $54,930 | $35,990 | $62,830 | 1,260 | 1.92 |
| Indiana | $49,420 | $40,300 | $62,870 | 710 | 2.08 |
| Iowa | $50,370 | $47,070 | $67,990 | 180 | 1.05 |
| Kansas | $47,310 | $38,770 | $75,120 | 90 | 0.57 |
| Kentucky | $47,060 | $35,720 | $62,530 | 250 | 1.14 |
| Louisiana | $50,560 | $37,340 | $66,090 | 90 | 0.43 |
| Maine | $64,800 | $44,380 | $66,510 | 80 | 1.17 |
| Maryland | $54,860 | $40,000 | $79,410 | 60 | 0.2 |
| Massachusetts | $60,870 | $43,260 | $80,440 | 690 | 1.76 |
| Michigan | $46,680 | $36,630 | $62,430 | 1,540 | 3.26 |
| Minnesota | $61,000 | $46,290 | $74,440 | 150 | 0.46 |
| Missouri | $48,950 | $33,410 | $63,350 | 160 | 0.51 |
| Nebraska | $47,350 | $42,470 | $63,000 | 120 | 1.11 |
| Nevada | $58,240 | $38,180 | $71,810 | 60 | 0.34 |
| New Hampshire | $48,980 | $43,080 | $62,170 | 150 | 2.02 |
| New Jersey | $48,180 | $36,120 | $75,110 | 190 | 0.41 |
| New York | $50,760 | $41,110 | $69,630 | 530 | 0.51 |
| North Carolina | $53,840 | $39,190 | $63,100 | 310 | 0.59 |
| Ohio | $49,880 | $39,190 | $67,580 | 1,180 | 1.97 |
| Oklahoma | $43,680 | $33,280 | $56,610 | 240 | 1.3 |
| Oregon | $41,640 | $38,020 | $66,870 | 40 | 0.19 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,020 | $43,570 | $66,500 | 580 | 0.89 |
| South Carolina | $49,490 | $39,090 | $68,260 | 370 | 1.49 |
| Tennessee | $40,730 | $35,080 | $59,910 | 700 | 1.99 |
| Texas | $48,020 | $26,610 | $56,930 | 2,150 | 1.42 |
| Virginia | $48,920 | $38,190 | $61,790 | 210 | 0.47 |
| West Virginia | $53,660 | $39,420 | $63,120 | 50 | 0.64 |
| Wisconsin | $51,020 | $37,780 | $69,100 | 340 | 1.07 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist CIP 48.0501
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Autodesk HSMWorks
- Computer numerical control CNC editor software
- G-code
- Inventory tracking software
- M-code
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: CNC Lathe Operator (Computer Numerical Control Lathe Operator), CNC Setup Operator (Computer Numerical Control Setup Operator), Lathe Operator, Machine Operator, Numerical Control Operator (NC Operator), Screw Machine Operator, Screw Machine Tool Setter, Setup Operator, Turn Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
The national median annual wage for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic was $50,620 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,670 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $69,700. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?
BLS projects employment of lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to change -11.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Colorado ($71,670), Maine ($64,800), Minnesota ($61,000). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.