Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Pay

Getting in

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Prior experience

None

Calculate your switch to lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

What the work is like

Core tasks

• 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.
• Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
• Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.

Also called: CNC Lathe Operator (Computer Numerical Control Lathe Operator) · CNC Setup Operator (Computer Numerical Control Setup Operator) · Lathe Operator · Machine Operator · Numerical Control Operator (NC Operator) · Screw Machine Operator · Screw Machine Tool Setter · Setup Operator

Outlook and AI

Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic held 16,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,800 by 2035 (−11%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).

Productivity change - share decreases as manufacturers are expected to use more CNC, automated, and programmable machinery to perform some functions or tasks previously done by these workers.

Compare with

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• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
• Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic