What do they 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.

Also known as:

CNC Lathe Operator (Computer Numerical Control Lathe Operator), CNC Setup Operator (Computer Numerical Control Setup Operator), Engine Lathe Operator, Lathe Operator, Machine Operator, Numerical Control Operator (NC Operator), Screw Machine Operator, Screw Machine Tool Setter, Setup Operator, Tool Setter, Turn Operator, Turret Lathe Operator

Typical Wages

Wages$0$14K$28K$42K$56K$70KPercentiles10th25thMedian75th90th$35k$39k$47k$55k$64k

Projected Growth Rate

Declining

Employment of Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to Decline 9 percent from 2022 to 2032

Projected Employment For All United States

No Data Available
Employment2022203219,70017,800
  • -9.6%

    Change

    Select a state to see its job growth rate ranking
    2,200

    Job Openings

    Select a state to see its net job growth ranking

Colleges with the most graduates that become Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • High school diploma equivalent  (43%)
  • Some college, no degree  (29%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (18%)
  • Associate's degree  (6%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (4%)
  • Master's degree  (<1%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Select Type of Degree:

★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have these skills:

  • 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.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
  • Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
  • Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
  • Conduct test runs of production equipment.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Program equipment to perform production tasks.
  • Program robotic equipment.
  • Perform basic equipment maintenance.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
  • Install mechanical components in production equipment.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 29.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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