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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $50,620 Median per year · $24.34/hr Most earn $36,670–$69,700

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
  • Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
  • Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
  • 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.
  • Program computer numerical control machines.

Job outlook

United States
11% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Turned product and screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing20.7%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing20.6%
  • Machine shops16.5%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing5.9%
  • Machinery manufacturing5.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is an entry-level job. Most people start after a high school diploma plus a short machining certificate or apprenticeship, and it usually takes about 6 months to 1 year of training and related work before you're ready for it.

  1. High school diploma (with math and shop classes)

    4 years

    Strong math and hands-on shop skills build the measuring and blueprint-reading base that machine training depends on.

  2. Machining certificate or apprenticeship

    6 months to 1 year

    You learn to read technical drawings, measure precisely, set up lathes, and run safety procedures, often through a community college program or an employer-sponsored apprenticeship.

  3. Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender

    Entry-level job

    You set up and run lathes to turn, bore, thread, and face metal or plastic parts, and you check the finished pieces against the specifications.

Where it can lead

  1. CNC Machinist

    1-3 years of experience first

    You move from manual lathe work to programming and running computer-controlled machines, which requires learning G-code and more advanced setup and troubleshooting.

  2. Machinist

    3-5 years of experience first

    You make and repair precision parts using a range of machine tools, and you take on more complex jobs that need independent judgment.

  3. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a team of machine operators, schedule work, and track quality, which requires leadership and communication skills on top of technical knowledge.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and geometryMeasurement, fractions, and geometry are used every day when setting up and checking lathe work.
  • Take shop, drafting, or CAD classesReading blueprints and technical drawings is a core skill for machine setters.
  • Join a robotics, engineering, or technology clubHands-on building teaches teamwork, tool use, and problem-solving that carry over to machine work.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job at a manufacturer or repair shopEven a basic job exposes you to the shop floor, safety rules, and how production work runs.

In college

  • Enroll in a machining or manufacturing certificate programMost people in this career get their training through a certificate or apprenticeship, so this is the most direct route in.
  • Take courses in blueprint reading and precision measurementThese skills help you set up jobs correctly and avoid costly errors on the shop floor.
  • Seek an apprenticeship or co-op with a local manufacturerOn-the-job training under experienced machinists builds real experience that employers look for.
  • Learn basic CNC programming or CAD softwareKnowing computer-controlled machines opens up more job options and paths to higher-level roles.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school or a local manufacturer whether they offer shop tours, job shadowing, or summer jobs so you can see real machines before you commit.
  • Get comfortable with measuring tools like calipers and micrometers now, since accuracy is central to this work.
  • Look up community college machining or manufacturing certificate programs near you and compare what they require to enroll.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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