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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 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.
What Do Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Do?
The core tasks performed by lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Automatic Screwmaker
- Automatic Spinning Lathe Operator
- Automatic Spinning Lathe Setter
- Axle Turner
- Back Facer
- Balance Recesser
- Balance Wheel Facer
- Bar Pointer
How Many Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Are There?
There are roughly 709,023 lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in the United States today. Demand is forecast 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The bulk of lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are found across 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 |
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- 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
The on-the-job environment of lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic tends to involve 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
Getting Started in This Career
Most 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), reflecting 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)
Where to Study
Students preparing for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic commonly pursue programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on 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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