What is a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender?
Occupation 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: What Do They Do?
- Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.
- Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.
- Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
- Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
- Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.
- Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
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What a 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.
Other Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Job Titles
- Rim Turning Machine Operator
- Threading Machine Operator
- Bevel Operator
- Screw Machine Hand
- Swiss-Type Screw Machine Set-Up Operator
Is There Going to be 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.
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.
Do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?
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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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 do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Inventory tracking software
- G-code
- M-code
- Autodesk HSMWorks
How to Become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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