Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

ManufacturingO*NET 51-4034.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $50,627
Projected change: −9.5%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 18.26K jobs

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.
Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
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.
Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.
Program computer numerical control machines.
Clean work area.
Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.
Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.
Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.
Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $36,670
25th percentile: $43,243
50th percentile: $50,627
75th percentile: $60,694
90th percentile: $69,701

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $50,627 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−9.5%projected to decline

202518,259 jobs

2035 projected16,524 jobs

1,735 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 49.8%
Some college: 28.9%
Certificate: 11.6%
Master's or Professional degree: 9.6%
Doctoral degree or more: 0.1%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Lathes
Machining
Micrometer
Calipers
Blueprinting
Tooling
Machine Operation
Metal Lathes
Mills
Machinery
Precision Measuring Instruments
Technical Drawing
Blueprint Reading
Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
General Mathematics
Mechanical Aptitude
CNC Machining
Machine Setup
Continuous Improvement Process
Lifting Ability

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Lathe Operators141 postings
02CNC Lathe Machine Operators27 postings
03Set Up Operators16 postings
04Lead Machine Operators15 postings
05Manual Lathe Operators15 postings
06CNC Mill/Lathe Machinists13 postings
07Machine Setup Operators9 postings
08CNC Lathe Set Up Operators7 postings
09Lathe Machinists7 postings
10Machine Operators7 postings
11CNC Lathe Machinists5 postings
12Licensed Clinical Social Workers5 postings
13Manual Lathe Machinists5 postings
14Manual Machine Operators5 postings
15CNC Mill/Lathe Operators4 postings
16Aerospace Machinists3 postings
17Cell Operators3 postings
18Machine Shop Managers3 postings
19Milling Machine Operators3 postings
20CNC Lathe Operators2 postings

Top employers

01Aerotek17 postings
02Integrity Staffing Solutions7 postings
03Orchid Orthopedic Solutions7 postings
04Staff Management | SMX6 postings
05Work Now Staffing6 postings
06Andritz5 postings
07Headway5 postings
08Hubbell5 postings
09LSI Staffing5 postings
10AWG Biuro Nieruchomości4 postings
11Harken4 postings
12Kerns Manufacturing Corp4 postings
13ManpowerGroup4 postings
14O&S Precision4 postings
15Positronic Industries4 postings
16PrideStaff4 postings
17U.S Pipe4 postings
18Adecco3 postings
19AppleOne3 postings
20Arch Medical Solutions3 postings

Keep looking

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median pay: $46,467
Employment outlook: +0.5%

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Median pay: $65,331
Employment outlook: −7.4%

Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate

Median pay: $68,507
Employment outlook: −2.3%

Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

Median pay: $68,507
Employment outlook: −2.3%