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Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
Home / All Jobs / Trades / Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
These workers set up drill presses and boring machines to cut precise holes and openings in metal or plastic parts. The job is hands-on and exacting: you measure carefully, choose the right tool and cutting settings, then keep a close eye on the machine while swapping worn parts and correcting problems. The tradeoff is clear—steady, practical work with moderate training requirements, but a shrinking job market and a lot of repetitive, physical tasks.
Also known as Drill Press OperatorBoring Machine OperatorBoring Mill OperatorDrill and Boring Machine OperatorMachine Tool Operator
Median Salary
$46,630
Mean $50,330
U.S. Workforce
~5K
0.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-19.6%
5.3K to 4.3K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~5K workers, with a median annual pay of $46,630 and roughly 0.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 5.3 K in 2024 to 4.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Machine Shop Helper and can progress toward Senior Set-Up Operator. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Machine Setup, Speed & Feed Control, and Blueprint Reading & Shop Math, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Mark the exact spots where holes or other cuts need to go, using layout tools and measurements from the drawing.
- Put the right drill or boring tool into the machine and replace cutters when they wear out.
- Load metal or plastic parts onto the machine table, using a hoist or crane help when the pieces are too heavy to lift safely.
- Choose the right speed, feed rate, and depth of cut for the material and the part specifications.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Mark the exact spots where holes or other cuts need to go, using layout tools and measurements from the drawing.
02 Put the right drill or boring tool into the machine and replace cutters when they wear out.
03 Load metal or plastic parts onto the machine table, using a hoist or crane help when the pieces are too heavy to lift safely.
04 Choose the right speed, feed rate, and depth of cut for the material and the part specifications.
05 Run the machine, lower the tool into the workpiece, and keep the automatic feed moving as the cut is made.
06 Sharpen worn tools and check the finished part so mistakes are caught before it moves to the next step.
Industries That Hire
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Automotive and Vehicle Parts
Ford, General Motors, Toyota
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Heavy Equipment and Industrial Machinery
Caterpillar, John Deere, Cummins
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Oilfield Equipment and Services
Halliburton, Baker Hughes, NOV
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Medical Device Manufacturing
Medtronic, Stryker, Boston Scientific
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training, so you do not need a long college track to get started.
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The pay is solid for a trade job, with median annual earnings of $46,630 and mean pay of $50,330.
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The work is concrete and measurable: you can see whether a hole is in the right place and whether the part meets spec.
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It builds transferable shop skills such as blueprint reading, tool setup, and precision measurement.
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There are still about 0.4K annual openings, which gives job seekers some replacement opportunities even though the occupation is shrinking.
Challenges
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The occupation is projected to fall 19.6% from 2024 to 2034, dropping from about 5.3K jobs to 4.3K, so long-term demand is weak.
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With only about 0.4K annual openings, the job market is small and openings can be limited in many regions.
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The work is repetitive and physical, often involving standing for long periods, lifting parts, and handling sharp tools and metal chips.
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Automation and CNC equipment can reduce the need for manual setters and tenders, which creates a ceiling on future growth.
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Career advancement often means moving into broader machining or setup roles because the occupation itself does not have strong expansion prospects.
Career Progression
Machine Shop Helper
0-2 years
$30K-$36K
New workers learn the shop floor, move parts and supplies, and help experienced operators with basic setup and cleanup.
Drill Press Trainee
1-3 years
$37K-$44K
Workers begin running simple drilling jobs under supervision, building speed with measuring tools and machine controls.
Drilling and Boring Machine Operator THIS ROLE
3-7 years
$45K-$55K
At this level, workers set up the machine, choose cutting settings, and run jobs independently; this band includes the occupation's median pay of $46,630.
Senior Set-Up Operator
7-12 years
$56K-$68K
Experienced workers handle tricky parts, train newer staff, and solve problems when tools wear out or parts do not line up correctly.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 56.88% of workers in this occupation.
Some college or technical coursework
A smaller 12.19% start with some college courses, often to build machining, blueprint reading, or shop math skills.
Associate's degree in machining or manufacturing technology
About 12.11% of workers come in with an associate's degree or other two-year degree.
Post-secondary certificate in machining
A smaller 1.94% enter with a post-secondary certificate, which can be a practical route for learning machine setup and measurement skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 66%
Machine Setup, Speed & Feed Control 56%
Blueprint Reading & Shop Math 55%
Precision Measuring Tools (Calipers, Micrometers & Gauges) 54%
Cutting Tool Selection, Installation & Sharpening 53%
Hoists, Cranes & Heavy Part Handling 51%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+-19.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 5.3K to 4.3 K over the next decade, representing -19.6% growth. Around 0.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.