Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Colorado$69,780
- Massachusetts$60,670
- Minnesota$60,380
- California$59,980
- Maine$59,270
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $69,780 | $71,670 | $34 | +32.9% | 150 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $60,670 | $60,870 | $29 | +15.6% | 690 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $60,380 | $61,000 | $29 | +15% | 150 |
| 4 | California | $59,980 | $60,180 | $29 | +14.3% | 2,600 |
| 5 | Maine | $59,270 | $64,800 | $29 | +12.9% | 80 |
| 6 | Maryland | $59,010 | $54,860 | $28 | +12.4% | 60 |
| 7 | Arizona | $58,500 | $55,840 | $28 | +11.4% | 110 |
| 8 | Nevada | $57,080 | $58,240 | $27 | +8.7% | 60 |
| 9 | Alabama | $56,580 | $58,490 | $27 | +7.8% | 100 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $56,350 | $57,020 | $27 | +7.4% | 580 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $54,290 | $49,380 | $26 | +3.4% | 690 |
| 12 | New York | $54,220 | $50,760 | $26 | +3.3% | 530 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $54,000 | $53,660 | $26 | +2.9% | 50 |
| 14 | Kansas | $53,940 | $47,310 | $26 | +2.8% | 90 |
| 15 | Iowa | $53,880 | $50,370 | $26 | +2.6% | 180 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $53,680 | $53,840 | $26 | +2.3% | 310 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $53,470 | $49,490 | $26 | +1.9% | 370 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $53,180 | $51,020 | $26 | +1.3% | 340 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $52,710 | $50,560 | $25 | +0.4% | 90 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $52,530 | $48,180 | $25 | +0.1% | 190 |
| 21 | Ohio | $52,310 | $49,880 | $25 | -0.3% | 1,180 |
| 22 | Indiana | $52,220 | $49,420 | $25 | -0.5% | 710 |
| 23 | Illinois | $51,750 | $54,930 | $25 | -1.4% | 1,260 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $51,330 | $47,350 | $25 | -2.2% | 120 |
| 25 | Georgia | $51,270 | $50,180 | $25 | -2.3% | 100 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $51,020 | $48,980 | $25 | -2.8% | 150 |
| 27 | Missouri | $50,410 | $48,950 | $24 | -4% | 160 |
| 28 | Oregon | $49,910 | $41,640 | $24 | -4.9% | 40 |
| 29 | Virginia | $49,740 | $48,920 | $24 | -5.2% | 210 |
| 30 | Michigan | $48,900 | $46,680 | $24 | -6.8% | 1,540 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $47,600 | $47,060 | $23 | -9.3% | 250 |
| 32 | Florida | $45,590 | $44,710 | $22 | -13.1% | 140 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $45,320 | $40,730 | $22 | -13.7% | 700 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $44,410 | $43,680 | $21 | -15.4% | 240 |
| 35 | Texas | $44,150 | $48,020 | $21 | -15.9% | 2,150 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $39,980 | $39,060 | $19 | -23.8% | 190 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 77 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,420 | $70,500 | 360 |
| 2 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $66,980 | $67,280 | 80 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,500 | $60,010 | 220 |
| 4 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $66,460 | $64,970 | 30 |
| 5 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,950 | $61,220 | 130 |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $64,790 | $70,110 | 60 |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $61,940 | $61,470 | 90 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $61,890 | $61,740 | 510 |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,050 | $59,970 | 240 |
| 10 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,360 | $54,250 | 100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $81,900 | $70,990 | — |
| 2 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $62,400 | $64,810 | 980 |
| 3 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $60,600 | $59,950 | 1,520 |
| 4 | Foundries | $57,330 | $57,020 | 230 |
| 5 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $57,200 | $54,160 | 500 |
| 6 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | $56,660 | $54,840 | 680 |
| 7 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $55,890 | $55,960 | 950 |
| 8 | Machinery Manufacturing | $55,610 | $54,860 | 2,490 |
| 9 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $54,950 | $54,170 | 940 |
| 10 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $54,130 | $54,960 | 250 |
| 11 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $52,800 | $56,170 | 400 |
| 12 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $52,580 | $52,660 | 130 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $50,620 per year (mean $52,490), and about 80% earn between $36,670 and $69,700.
How much do lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make per hour?
Roughly $25 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $52,490 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
Colorado has the highest average pay for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at $69,780 per year (median $71,670).
What is the job outlook for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Employment is projected to change -13.6% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 1,500 openings per year.