Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $49,080 ($23.60 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $49,080
- Mean annual wage
- $51,810
- Median hourly wage
- $23.60
- Employment
- 4,680
4,680 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| 25th percentile | $41,710 | $20.05 |
| Median (50th) | $49,080 | $23.60 |
| 75th percentile | $57,940 | $27.85 |
| 90th percentile | $68,410 | $32.89 |
Highest-paying states for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $90,390 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $77,780 | 60 |
| Idaho | $69,590 | 70 |
| Florida | $66,340 | 80 |
| Michigan | $60,410 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $59,800 | 40 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | 390 |
| New York | $55,310 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $55,230 | 250 |
| Alabama | $53,110 | 140 |
Lowest-paying states
- Indiana: $39,110 median annual wage
- Connecticut: $41,080 median annual wage
- Iowa: $43,860 median annual wage
- Texas: $44,350 median annual wage
- Missouri: $44,990 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
Typical tasks
- Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
- Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
- Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
- Observe drilling or boring machine operations to detect any problems.
- Lay out reference lines and machining locations on work, using layout tools, and applying knowledge of shop math and layout techniques.
- Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 18.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 46.1% |
| Some college, no degree | 22.9% |
| Associate's degree | 7.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 5.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.