SOC 514034

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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.

National Median

$48,620

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$48,620

Entry Level (10th pct)

$36,200

Experienced (90th pct)

$65,450

Total Employed

18,970

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$36,200 - $41,180
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$41,180 - $58,100
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$58,100 - $65,450

Highest Paying Locations for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Greeley, CO

$71,150

+46.3% vs national

Pittsburgh, PA

$64,410

+32.5% vs national

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

$62,920

+29.4% vs national

Maine

$62,120

+27.8% vs national

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT

$62,080

+27.7% vs national

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Greeley, CO	$71,150	N/A
Pittsburgh, PA	$64,410	330
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$62,920	130
Maine	$62,120	100
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$62,080	90
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area	$60,090	380
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$59,980	250
Colorado	$59,850	100
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$59,450	250
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$59,440	330
Massachusetts	$59,430	420
Pennsylvania	$58,910	760
Omaha, NE-IA	$58,060	30
Lincoln, NE	$58,050	50
Washington	$57,840	40
Minnesota	$57,820	150
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$57,790	120
Nebraska	$57,640	150
Utah	$57,500	50
Worcester, MA	$56,660	60
Peoria, IL	$56,640	280
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$56,200	200
New Jersey	$55,810	230
Maryland	$55,680	60
Illinois	$55,620	1,430
Mansfield, OH	$55,320	60
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$55,250	110
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$54,650	60
Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area	$54,180	40
St. Louis, MO-IL	$54,080	170
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$53,510	50
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$52,890	160
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$52,890	80
Arizona	$52,620	260
Indiana	$52,190	1,250
Baton Rouge, LA	$51,990	40
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$51,980	60
West Virginia	$51,980	80
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$51,870	440
Lancaster, PA	$51,580	30
Wisconsin	$51,540	410
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$51,420	100
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$51,290	80
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$51,080	90
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$51,050	30
Vermont	$50,840	50
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$50,800	190
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area	$50,770	70
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$50,600	50
North Carolina	$50,580	460

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

The national median annual salary for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $48,620, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics is Greeley, CO, with a median salary of $71,150.

How much can an experienced Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?

Top-earning Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics (90th percentile) make $65,450 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.