✈️
Aerospace Manufacturing
Boeing, Airbus, GE Aerospace
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other
This occupation covers workers who run machines, shape parts, and finish metal or plastic products when the work does not fit a narrower title. The job is hands-on and process-driven, with a clear tradeoff: it is accessible with a high school diploma and employer training, but the work is often repetitive and the overall occupation is expected to shrink over the next decade.
Also known as Production OperatorMachine OperatorManufacturing TechnicianProcess OperatorFabrication Operator
Median Salary
$42,750
Mean $45,850
U.S. Workforce
~20K
1.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-9.5%
20.4K to 18.5K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other 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 ~20K workers, with a median annual pay of $42,750 and roughly 1.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 20.4 K in 2024 to 18.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or GED, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Production Helper and can progress toward Lead Operator / Shift Lead. High-value skills usually include Quality Inspection with Calipers, Micrometers & Gauges, Machine Setup, Changeovers & Adjustments, and CNC Machines, Presses & Production Equipment, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Reliability, and Mechanical aptitude.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up presses, molds, cutters, or other equipment for the part or batch that needs to be made.
- Watch the machine while it runs and adjust settings like speed, temperature, pressure, or feed rate so the parts come out correctly.
- Trim, smooth, or finish parts after they come off the machine so they meet the required shape and surface quality.
- Measure pieces with gauges, calipers, or micrometers and pull out items that do not meet specifications.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up presses, molds, cutters, or other equipment for the part or batch that needs to be made.
02 Watch the machine while it runs and adjust settings like speed, temperature, pressure, or feed rate so the parts come out correctly.
03 Trim, smooth, or finish parts after they come off the machine so they meet the required shape and surface quality.
04 Measure pieces with gauges, calipers, or micrometers and pull out items that do not meet specifications.
05 Clear jams, replace worn parts, and handle basic cleanup or maintenance to keep production moving.
06 Record counts, labels, and shift notes so the next worker knows what was made and what problems came up.
Industries That Hire
🚗
Automotive Parts
Ford, Toyota, Magna International
📦
Packaging & Plastics
Berry Global, Sealed Air, Sonoco
🩺
Medical Devices
Medtronic, Stryker, Boston Scientific
🏭
Industrial Equipment & Machinery
Caterpillar, John Deere, Parker Hannifin
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
You can get in with a high school diploma, and BLS says employers usually provide moderate-term on-the-job training.
+
The pay is decent for a mostly hands-on role, with median annual pay at $42,750 and mean pay at $45,850.
+
There are still about 1.7 thousand annual openings, so people do keep moving in and out of these jobs even as the occupation shrinks.
+
The work teaches practical shop skills like measuring parts, setting up machines, and checking quality that transfer to other manufacturing jobs.
+
The occupation appears in many industries, so you may be able to move between plastics, metals, and production plants without changing fields entirely.
Challenges
-
The long-term outlook is weak: employment is projected to fall from about 20,400 jobs in 2024 to 18,500 by 2034, a drop of 9.5%.
-
Because this is a catchall occupation, many workers can hit a career ceiling unless they move into supervision, maintenance, or a more specialized trade.
-
A lot of the work is repetitive and physically demanding, with standing, lifting, and attention to the same machine cycle for long stretches.
-
Shop-floor jobs come with real safety risks, including moving parts, hot surfaces, sharp edges, and exposure to fumes or dust.
-
Automation and plant restructuring can reduce demand for routine production work, especially in jobs built around repetitive machine operation.
Career Progression
Production Helper
0-1 years
$30K-$36K
You learn the plant layout, move materials, keep stations supplied, and help more experienced operators with simple production tasks.
Metal/Plastic Worker
1-4 years
$40K-$48K
You run assigned equipment, make routine adjustments, check part quality, and keep output moving with limited supervision.
Senior Operator THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$49K-$57K
You handle harder changeovers, troubleshoot common problems, and often train newer workers on the line.
Lead Operator / Shift Lead
8-12 years
$58K-$68K
You coordinate work across a small team, solve production issues, and help meet quality and output targets for the shift.
Education Paths
High school diploma or GED
BLS lists this as the typical entry point for the occupation, and it is the most direct path into shop-floor work.
Postsecondary certificate in manufacturing, machining, or plastics processing
A short certificate can help you learn machine setup, measuring tools, and production safety before you apply.
Employer training or apprenticeship-style training
Many workers are trained on the specific machines they will use, which fits the moderate-term on-the-job training requirement.
Key Skills
Technical
Quality Inspection with Calipers, Micrometers & Gauges 88%
Machine Setup, Changeovers & Adjustments 86%
CNC Machines, Presses & Production Equipment 84%
Blueprint Reading & Work Orders 78%
Plastics Processing & Injection Molding 76%
Metal Fabrication, Cutting & Finishing 74%
Lockout/Tagout, PPE & Shop Safety 72%
Basic Maintenance & Troubleshooting 68%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailReliabilityMechanical aptitudeTeamworkProblem-solvingPhysical stamina Job Outlook and Trends
+-9.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 20.4K to 18.5 K over the next decade, representing -9.5% growth. Around 1.7 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.