Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in California
Metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in California earned a median of $60,180 a year ($28.93 an hour) and a mean of $59,980 in May 2025. The median is 18.9% above the U.S. median of $50,620, ranking 5th of 36 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $60,180
- Median hourly
- $28.93
- Mean annual
- $59,980
- Jobs on record
- 2,600
Grey needle: U.S. median, $50,620 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does California compare on pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
California ranks 5th of 36 states. Colorado is highest at $71,670, $11,490 more than the California median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 3 | $61,000 | +21% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $60,870 | +20% | 690 |
| California | 5 | $60,180 | +19% | 2,600 |
| Alabama | 6 | $58,490 | +16% | 100 |
| Nevada | 7 | $58,240 | +15% | 60 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 36 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does California pay go further after prices?
Prices in California run 10.7% above the U.S. average, so the $60,180 median buys about what $54,353 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $50,620 U.S. median. On this measure California ranks 14th of 36, down from 5th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in California pay metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is highest at $74,420, 23.7% above the California median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,420 | 360 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,050 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,190 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,110 | 1,280 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,990 | 230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,010 | 210 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $48,320 | 90 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in California is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders work in California?
BLS counts 2,600 jobs in California, 15.6% of the 16,710 in the U.S. That is the largest count among the 36 states with a published figure. That is 0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in California, a location quotient of 1.33: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.33 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the California minimum wage compare with pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in California was $20.91 in May 2025, $4.01 above the $16.90 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in California
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.