Careers / Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$49,080
United States, 2025
Employment
4,680
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
- O*NET code
- 51-4032.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
- Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
- Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
- Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
- Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
- Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
- Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
- Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$36,300
25th percentile
$41,710
75th percentile
$57,940
90th percentile
$68,410
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Equipment Maintenance2.8
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 10 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
10
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 2.6 | Not selected | 2.6 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.3 | Not selected | 2.3 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
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Compare with Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA | $90,390 | 100 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $79,120 | 60 | 2025 |
| MA | $77,780 | 60 | 2025 |
| ID | $69,590 | 70 | 2025 |
| FL | $66,340 | 80 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | $63,320 | 80 | 2025 |
| MI | $60,410 | 190 | 2025 |
| NH | $59,800 | 40 | 2025 |
| Tulsa, OK | $58,210 | 180 | 2025 |
| Peoria, IL | $56,840 | 70 | 2025 |
| IL | $56,720 | 390 | 2025 |
| NY | $55,310 | 70 | 2025 |
| OK | $55,230 | 250 | 2025 |
| AL | $53,110 | 140 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $52,260 | 70 | 2025 |
| SC | $52,040 | 70 | 2025 |
| KY | $51,740 | — | 2025 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $51,740 | — | 2025 |
| OH | $51,670 | 200 | 2025 |
| Cleveland, OH | $51,670 | 70 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.