Careers / Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Milling and Planing Machine 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
$52,800
United States, 2025
Employment
12,460
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 milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
- O*NET code
- 51-4035.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
- Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
- Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
- Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
- Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
- Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
- Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
- Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$37,840
25th percentile
$45,210
75th percentile
$64,900
90th percentile
$81,030
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.4
- Monitoring3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Troubleshooting2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Coordination2.8
- Writing2.6
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 5 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
5
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 | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $105,430 | 110 | 2025 |
| WA | $86,460 | 240 | 2025 |
| CT | $79,300 | 150 | 2025 |
| KY | $66,440 | 540 | 2025 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $66,440 | 90 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $65,540 | — | 2025 |
| IL | $63,360 | 570 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $63,360 | 470 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $62,530 | 110 | 2025 |
| MA | $62,380 | — | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $62,220 | 40 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | $61,340 | 130 | 2025 |
| Youngstown, OH | $60,380 | 30 | 2025 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $60,140 | 60 | 2025 |
| NE | $59,630 | 70 | 2025 |
| Springfield, MA | $59,260 | — | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $59,050 | 230 | 2025 |
| CA | $59,050 | 1,960 | 2025 |
| Elkhart, IN | $59,040 | 190 | 2025 |
| WI | $58,770 | 280 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Milling and Planing Machine 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.