Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
Median pay: $52,800/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -14.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 1,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
• Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
• Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
• 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.
• Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
• Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations.
What's the median pay for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
The median pay for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $52,800 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Employment for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to change -14.4% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
About 1,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.