Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $50,620 ($24.34 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $50,620
- Mean annual wage
- $52,490
- Median hourly wage
- $24.34
- Employment
- 16,710
16,710 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| 25th percentile | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| Median (50th) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| 75th percentile | $60,700 | $29.18 |
| 90th percentile | $69,700 | $33.51 |
Highest-paying states for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $71,670 | 150 |
| Maine | $64,800 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $61,000 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $60,870 | 690 |
| California | $60,180 | 2,600 |
| Alabama | $58,490 | 100 |
| Nevada | $58,240 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,020 | 580 |
| Arizona | $55,840 | 110 |
| Illinois | $54,930 | 1,260 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $39,060 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $40,730 median annual wage
- Oregon: $41,640 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $43,680 median annual wage
- Florida: $44,710 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
- Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
- Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.
- Program computer numerical control machines.
- Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
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.