Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.
Base salary
$53,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$2,000
3.5% of base
Total target cash
$55,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile):$1,000 to $3,500
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
About this role
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.
Base salary
$53,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$2,000
3.5% of base
Total target cash
$55,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile):$1,000 to $3,500
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
What Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlMonitoringTime ManagementSpeaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$37,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$43,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$51,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$60,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$71,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-19.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
400
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
1,370 workers
$54,500
Machinery Manufacturing
940 workers
$54,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
660 workers
$55,500
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
620 workers
$53,500
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
500 workers
$53,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
490 workers
$61,500
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
480 workers
$47,500
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
460 workers
$47,000
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
390 workers
$47,500
Primary Metal Manufacturing
350 workers
$46,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pays 4% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $53,500 per year, or about $25.72 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $43,000 and $60,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
