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
- +4.1%
- 2024→2025
- $69,700
- Top 10% earn
- -13.6%
- Growth '24–'34
- 16,710
- Estimated US jobs
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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Colorado ($71,670).
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 2034.
- $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.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic moved from $40,100 in May 2019 to $50,620 in May 2025 (+26.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits +1.8 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4034) has a national median of $50,620 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $36,670 to $69,700, and the published mean is $52,490. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 16,710 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 36 state or territory areas and 77 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $48,620 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $50,620 in May 2025, a rise of $2,000 (+4.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -13.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,500 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $74,420. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
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.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$50,620 · 35th percentile of 825 US occupations
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).
Read the chart as text
- Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
- Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
- Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
- Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
- Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
- Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
- Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
- Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
- Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
- Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
- Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
- Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
- Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
- Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
- Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
- Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
- Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
- Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
- Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
- Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
- Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -13.6%, Median annual wage $50620
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)
Employment Change
-2,600
18,900 (2024) → 16,400 (2034)
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 →Production Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
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
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $36,810 |
| 2016 | $38,480 |
| 2017 | $38,580 |
| 2018 | $39,180 |
| 2019 | $40,100 |
| 2020 | $41,380 |
| 2021 | $44,240 |
| 2022 | $47,020 |
| 2023 | $47,110 |
| 2024 | $48,620 |
| 2025 | $50,620 |
2015 median
$36,810
2025 median
$50,620
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$10,520 (+26.2%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+4%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $36,810 | First banked release | 40,140 |
| May 2016 | $38,480 | +4.5% | 33,850 |
| May 2017 | $38,580 | +0.3% | 29,620 |
| May 2018 | $39,180 | +1.6% | 29,510 |
| May 2019 | $40,100 | Classification break | 28,070 |
| May 2020 | $41,380 | +3.2% | 23,710 |
| May 2021 | $44,240 | +6.9% | 19,690 |
| May 2022 | $47,020 | +6.3% | 19,410 |
| May 2023 | $47,110 | +0.2% | 19,560 |
| May 2024 | $48,620 | +3.2% | 18,970 |
| May 2025 | $50,620 | +4.1% | 16,710 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $36,810 in May 2015 to $50,620 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 28,070 in May 2019 to 16,710 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
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 61 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 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,950 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $64,790 | +28% above national |
| 6 | Spartanburg, SC | $61,940 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $61,890 | +22% above national |
| 8 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,050 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,190 | +19% above national |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,110 | +19% above national |
| 11 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $59,740 | +18% above national |
| 12 | Springfield, MA | $59,030 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,990 | +15% above national |
| 14 | Peoria, IL | $57,330 | +13% above national |
| 15 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,010 | +13% above national |
| 16 | New Haven, CT | $56,160 | +11% above national |
| 17 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $55,850 | +10% above national |
| 18 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $54,850 | +8% above national |
| 19 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,840 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,660 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $52,570 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Worcester, MA | $52,440 | +4% above national |
| 23 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $52,330 | +3% above national |
| 24 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $52,070 | +3% above national |
| 25 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $52,000 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $51,940 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,900 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $51,890 | +3% above national |
| 29 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $51,850 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $51,340 | +1% above national |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | $51,290 | +1% above national |
| 32 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $50,870 | same as national |
| 33 | Rochester, NY | $50,760 | same as national |
| 34 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,700 | same as national |
| 35 | Baton Rouge, LA | $50,550 | same as national |
| 36 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $50,180 | 1% below national |
| 37 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,080 | 1% below national |
| 38 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,980 | 1% below national |
| 39 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,940 | 1% below national |
| 40 | Akron, OH | $49,530 | 2% below national |
| 41 | Fort Wayne, IN | $49,340 | 3% below national |
| 42 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $49,210 | 3% below national |
| 43 | Omaha, NE-IA | $48,400 | 4% below national |
| 44 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $48,320 | 5% below national |
| 45 | Tulsa, OK | $48,090 | 5% below national |
| 46 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,900 | 5% below national |
| 47 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $47,700 | 6% below national |
| 48 | Rockford, IL | $47,690 | 6% below national |
| 49 | Terre Haute, IN | $47,600 | 6% below national |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $47,330 | 6% below national |
| 51 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $46,330 | 8% below national |
| 52 | Flint, MI | $45,880 | 9% below national |
| 53 | Columbia, SC | $45,040 | 11% below national |
| 54 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $44,820 | 11% below national |
| 55 | Syracuse, NY | $43,490 | 14% below national |
| 56 | Erie, PA | $43,140 | 15% below national |
| 57 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,460 | 16% below national |
| 58 | Oklahoma City, OK | $40,080 | 21% below national |
| 59 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $39,720 | 22% below national |
| 60 | Jackson, MI | $38,800 | 23% below national |
| 61 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $36,770 | 27% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC 51-9191
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
SOC 51-2011
Bakers
SOC 51-3011
Butchers and Meat Cutters
SOC 51-3021
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
SOC 51-7011
Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($50,620 here) and reported employment (16,710 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make? ▼
Where does Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most? ▼
What education do Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for 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
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $60,700/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
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.