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.
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
What Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$39,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$47,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$54,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$67,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$84,000
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
-14.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,100
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
3,100 workers
$56,000
Primary Metal Manufacturing
2,150 workers
$61,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
2,060 workers
$68,000
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
1,830 workers
$59,000
Machinery Manufacturing
1,440 workers
$58,000
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
1,210 workers
$83,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
1,030 workers
$50,000
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing
1,020 workers
$70,500
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
880 workers
$58,000
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel
700 workers
$54,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pays 4% above 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 Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $58,500 per year, or about $28.13 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $47,000 and $67,000 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.
