Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.
Median pay: $47,180/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: -0.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 12,800 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.
• Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.
• Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
• Read blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences.
• Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
• Observe machine operation to detect workpiece defects or machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.
• Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, cutters, shears, borers, millers, grinders, presses, drills, or auxiliary machines, to make metallic and plastic workpieces.
• Change worn machine accessories, such as cutting tools or brushes, using hand tools.
• Set machine stops or guides to specified lengths as indicated by scales, rules, or templates.
What's the median pay for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
The median pay for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $47,180 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Employment for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to change -0.5% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Multiple Machine Tool 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 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
About 12,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.