Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
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.
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $48,620 in the US and is projected to decline by 14% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.56 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £31,500 a year for Metal working machine operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £27,304 to £39,688 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8120). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
No official India pay figure for this career: it falls in more than one occupation group, and the Government of India's labour survey (PLFS) publishes pay only by occupation group.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
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.
How much does Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?
The median annual salary for Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the US is $48,620.
What is the job outlook for Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
The role is projected to decline by 14% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 18,900 workers.
How do I become lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Our AI-durability model gives Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a score of 0.56 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.