Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

ManufacturingO*NET 51-4035.00United States

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $52,811
Projected change: −11.1%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 13.48K jobs

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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 milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do

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

Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations.
Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications.
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.
Record production output.
Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $37,835
25th percentile: $45,219
50th percentile: $52,811
75th percentile: $64,896
90th percentile: $81,037

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $52,811 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−11.1%projected to decline

202513,478 jobs

2035 projected11,985 jobs

1,493 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: 57%
Bachelor's degree: 18.8%
Certificate: 15%
Some college: 9.1%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

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

Machine Operation
Milling
Machinery
Lifting Ability
Calipers
Mills
Mechanical Aptitude
Housekeeping
Machining
Milling Machines
General Mathematics
Safety Procedures
Micrometer
Forklift Truck
Blueprinting
Tooling
Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
Personal Protective Equipment
Machine Setup
Hand Tools

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

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

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14Asphalt Plant Operators5 postings
15Cutting Machine Operators4 postings
16Laser Machine Operators4 postings
17Lead Machine Operators4 postings
18Machine Setup Operators4 postings
19Plant Operators4 postings
20Manual Machine Operators3 postings

Top employers

01King Asphalt10 postings
02Cwr Contracting9 postings
03Austin Industrial8 postings
04Express Employment Professionals8 postings
05Standard Process7 postings
06Lindar Corporation6 postings
07Saint-Gobain6 postings
08Aerotek5 postings
09Loos & Co.5 postings
10Mohawk Industries5 postings
11Smurfit Westrock5 postings
12Spherion Staffing5 postings
13Ahlstrom Nonwovens4 postings
14Allan Myers4 postings
15Aluminum Precision Products4 postings
16Blommer Chocolate Co.4 postings
17Blythe Construction4 postings
18Boeing4 postings
19Francis O Day4 postings
20Ichor Systems4 postings

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