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.
Lathe and Turning 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
$54,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$5,000
8.9% of base
Total target cash
$59,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile):$3,000 to $8,000
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
About this role
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
What Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlReading ComprehensionQuality Control AnalysisMonitoringEquipment Maintenance
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$38,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$45,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$52,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$63,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$72,000
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
-13.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
9,750 workers
$51,500
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
6,200 workers
$53,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
3,160 workers
$48,000
Machinery Manufacturing
2,490 workers
$57,000
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
1,520 workers
$62,000
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
980 workers
$67,000
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
950 workers
$58,000
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
940 workers
$56,000
Primary Metal Manufacturing
680 workers
$57,000
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
620 workers
$57,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pays 3% 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 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $54,500 per year, or about $26.20 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $45,000 and $63,000 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 Lathe and Turning 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.
