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Life As a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender
Career 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.
Life As a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator
- Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
- Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
- Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.
- Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.
- Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
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Things a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Should Know How to Do
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Roll Turner
- Bar Turner
- Turret Lathe Operator
- Tool Turret Lathe Set-Up Operator
- Screw Machine Hand
Are There Job Opportunities for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 33,700 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. 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.
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.
Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Average Salary
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.
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 each U.S. state?
| 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
Becoming a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator
What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender?
What work experience do I need to become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator?
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
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