51 Series · SOC 51-4034
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $50,620
- Median / year
- $69,700
- Top 10% earn
- -13.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 16,710
- US workers
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $50,620 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $50,620, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,670 (10th percentile) to $69,700 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 16,710 US workers. Colorado pays the most ($71,670), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $50,620, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 35% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #33 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 13.6% by 2033.
- $50,620
- Median annual wage
- Top 65%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #33 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $71,670. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4034) pays a national median of $50,620 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,670 at the 10th percentile to $69,700 at the 90th, with a mean of $52,490 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 16,710 Americans work in this occupation across 36 reporting states and 77 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -13.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $71,670, which is +42% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $74,420 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$50,620
per year
Median Hourly
$24.34/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$52,490
average
Employment
16,710
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$50,620 Bottom 35% higher than 35% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits on the slower-growing side at -13.6% growth and $50,620 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-13.6%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.
- ▸ Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- ▸ Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.
- ▸ Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
- ▸ Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,670
25th Percentile
$43,250
Median
$50,620
75th Percentile
$60,700
90th Percentile
$69,700
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 36 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $71,670 | +42% above national |
| 2 | Maine | $64,800 | +28% above national |
| 3 | Minnesota | $61,000 | +21% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $60,870 | +20% above national |
| 5 | California | $60,180 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Alabama | $58,490 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Nevada | $58,240 | +15% above national |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $57,020 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Arizona | $55,840 | +10% above national |
| 10 | Illinois | $54,930 | +9% above national |
| 11 | Maryland | $54,860 | +8% above national |
| 12 | North Carolina | $53,840 | +6% above national |
| 13 | West Virginia | $53,660 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $51,020 | +1% above national |
| 15 | New York | $50,760 | same as national |
| 16 | Louisiana | $50,560 | same as national |
| 17 | Iowa | $50,370 | same as national |
| 18 | Georgia | $50,180 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Ohio | $49,880 | 1% below national |
| 20 | South Carolina | $49,490 | 2% below national |
| 21 | Indiana | $49,420 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Connecticut | $49,380 | 2% below national |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $48,980 | 3% below national |
| 24 | Missouri | $48,950 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $48,920 | 3% below national |
| 26 | New Jersey | $48,180 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Texas | $48,020 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Nebraska | $47,350 | 6% below national |
| 29 | Kansas | $47,310 | 7% below national |
| 30 | Kentucky | $47,060 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Michigan | $46,680 | 8% below national |
| 32 | Florida | $44,710 | 12% below national |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $43,680 | 14% below national |
| 34 | Oregon | $41,640 | 18% below national |
| 35 | Tennessee | $40,730 | 20% below national |
| 36 | Arkansas | $39,060 | 23% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 77 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,420 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $66,980 | +32% above national |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,500 | +31% above national |
| 4 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $66,460 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,950 | +28% above national |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $64,790 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $61,940 | +22% above national |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $61,890 | +22% above national |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,050 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,360 | +19% above national |
| 11 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,190 | +19% above national |
| 12 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,110 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $59,740 | +18% above national |
| 14 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $59,650 | +18% above national |
| 15 | Springfield, MA | $59,030 | +17% above national |
| 16 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,990 | +15% above national |
| 17 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,500 | +14% above national |
| 18 | Peoria, IL | $57,330 | +13% above national |
| 19 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,010 | +13% above national |
| 20 | New Haven, CT | $56,160 | +11% above national |
| 21 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $55,850 | +10% above national |
| 22 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $54,850 | +8% above national |
| 23 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,840 | +6% above national |
| 24 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,660 | +6% above national |
| 25 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $52,980 | +5% above national |
| 26 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $52,570 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Worcester, MA | $52,440 | +4% above national |
| 28 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $52,330 | +3% above national |
| 29 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $52,070 | +3% above national |
| 30 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $52,000 | +3% above national |
| 31 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $51,940 | +3% above national |
| 32 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,900 | +3% above national |
| 33 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $51,890 | +3% above national |
| 34 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $51,850 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $51,340 | +1% above national |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $51,290 | +1% above national |
| 37 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $50,870 | same as national |
| 38 | Rochester, NY | $50,760 | same as national |
| 39 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,700 | same as national |
| 40 | Baton Rouge, LA | $50,550 | same as national |
| 41 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $50,180 | 1% below national |
| 42 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,080 | 1% below national |
| 43 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,980 | 1% below national |
| 44 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,940 | 1% below national |
| 45 | Akron, OH | $49,530 | 2% below national |
| 46 | Fort Wayne, IN | $49,340 | 3% below national |
| 47 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $49,210 | 3% below national |
| 48 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,180 | 3% below national |
| 49 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $49,040 | 3% below national |
| 50 | Omaha, NE-IA | $48,400 | 4% below national |
| 51 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $48,320 | 5% below national |
| 52 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48,120 | 5% below national |
| 53 | Tulsa, OK | $48,090 | 5% below national |
| 54 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,020 | 5% below national |
| 55 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,960 | 5% below national |
| 56 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,900 | 5% below national |
| 57 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $47,700 | 6% below national |
| 58 | Rockford, IL | $47,690 | 6% below national |
| 59 | Terre Haute, IN | $47,600 | 6% below national |
| 60 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,500 | 6% below national |
| 61 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $47,330 | 6% below national |
| 62 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $47,070 | 7% below national |
| 63 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $46,820 | 8% below national |
| 64 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $46,330 | 8% below national |
| 65 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $46,070 | 9% below national |
| 66 | Flint, MI | $45,880 | 9% below national |
| 67 | Columbia, SC | $45,040 | 11% below national |
| 68 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $44,820 | 11% below national |
| 69 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,790 | 12% below national |
| 70 | Syracuse, NY | $43,490 | 14% below national |
| 71 | Erie, PA | $43,140 | 15% below national |
| 72 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,460 | 16% below national |
| 73 | Oklahoma City, OK | $40,080 | 21% below national |
| 74 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $39,720 | 22% below national |
| 75 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $39,500 | 22% below national |
| 76 | Jackson, MI | $38,800 | 23% below national |
| 77 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $36,770 | 27% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make? ▼
What state pays Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
How dangerous is being a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
Is Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a good career? ▼
How does Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $60,700/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $71,670/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.