All About Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Job Description & Duties Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
Life As a Milling & Planing Machine Operator: What Do They Do?
- Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.
- Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
- Record production output.
- Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring.
- Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- Observe milling or planing machine operation and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
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Skills Needed to be a Milling & Planing Machine Operator
These are the skills Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Milling & Planing Machine Operator Jobs
- Tool Planer Set-Up Operator
- Thread Milling Machine Set Up Operator
- Profiler
- Profiling Machine Operator
- Broaching Machine Set Up Operator
Job Outlook for Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 17,600 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There will be an estimated 1,300 positions for Milling & Planing Machine Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Milling & Planing Machine Operator are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Milling & Planing Machine Operator
The salary for Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ranges between about $26,210 and $63,400 a year.

Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Tennessee, Connecticut, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $47,000 |
Arizona | $45,160 |
Arkansas | $44,440 |
California | $42,690 |
Colorado | $45,100 |
Connecticut | $55,780 |
Florida | $40,850 |
Georgia | $44,860 |
Idaho | $33,270 |
Illinois | $41,240 |
Indiana | $39,720 |
Iowa | $39,530 |
Kansas | $46,240 |
Kentucky | $42,290 |
Louisiana | $43,550 |
Maryland | $39,890 |
Massachusetts | $51,670 |
Michigan | $48,080 |
Minnesota | $42,130 |
Mississippi | $34,990 |
Missouri | $37,710 |
Nebraska | $40,090 |
New Hampshire | $36,120 |
New Jersey | $49,770 |
New York | $43,980 |
North Carolina | $36,650 |
Ohio | $45,710 |
Oklahoma | $34,060 |
Pennsylvania | $46,700 |
Rhode Island | $43,750 |
South Carolina | $31,370 |
Tennessee | $47,970 |
Texas | $40,230 |
Utah | $33,760 |
Vermont | $38,560 |
Virginia | $35,930 |
West Virginia | $40,710 |
Wisconsin | $43,060 |
What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Extensible markup language XML
- Siemens PLM Software Solid Edge
- G code
- Mastercam
- SmartCAMcnc SmartCAM
- EditCNC
- M code
- Vero Software Alphacam
- Edgecam
Becoming a Milling & Planing Machine Operator
Are there Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Are Employed

Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:

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References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
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