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Home / All Jobs / Trades / Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
These workers set up and run milling and planing machines that cut metal or plastic to exact dimensions. The job is different from many factory roles because small errors in speed, alignment, or measurements can ruin a part, so the work demands constant attention to detail. The tradeoff is hands-on, technical work with a fairly modest pay ceiling, especially as more shops automate routine machining.
Also known as CNC Milling Machine OperatorMilling Machine OperatorMilling Machine Set-Up OperatorPlaner Machine OperatorMachine Tool Operator
Median Salary
$48,310
Mean $52,940
U.S. Workforce
~14K
1.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-14.4%
13.8K to 11.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Milling and Planing Machine 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 ~14K workers, with a median annual pay of $48,310 and roughly 1.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 13.8 K in 2024 to 11.8K 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 Operator Trainee and can progress toward Lead Machinist / Shop Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring with CNC Machines, Machine Controls, Feed Rates & Cut Depths, and Blueprint Reading, Tolerances & Shop Math, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Problem solving, and Clear communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Read blueprints and measurement notes to figure out the exact size and shape a part needs to be.
- Set the machine's cutting speed, feed rate, and depth so it matches the material being worked on.
- Clamp or line up the raw piece so it stays steady and cuts in the right place.
- Attach the right cutters and accessories for jobs like drilling, boring, engraving, or routing.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Read blueprints and measurement notes to figure out the exact size and shape a part needs to be.
02 Set the machine's cutting speed, feed rate, and depth so it matches the material being worked on.
03 Clamp or line up the raw piece so it stays steady and cuts in the right place.
04 Attach the right cutters and accessories for jobs like drilling, boring, engraving, or routing.
05 Run the machine, keep coolant moving, and adjust the controls while the cut is in progress.
06 Check finished parts with calipers, gauges, and other measuring tools, then correct or reject pieces that miss the tolerance.
Industries That Hire
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Automotive Manufacturing
Ford, General Motors, Toyota
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Medical Device Manufacturing
Medtronic, Stryker, Boston Scientific
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Industrial Machinery and Equipment
Caterpillar, John Deere, Haas Automation
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Metal Fabrication and Contract Machining
Precision Castparts, Arconic, ATI
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma and moderate-term training instead of a four-year degree.
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The pay is solid for a shop-floor role, with a median annual wage of $48,310 and a mean of $52,940.
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The work gives you clear, tangible results: you can see whether a part fits the spec or not.
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You build skills that transfer to CNC machining, quality inspection, and setup work in other plants.
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There are still about 1.1 thousand annual openings, so people who learn the trade can find entry opportunities even in a shrinking field.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to fall 14.4%, from 13.8 thousand workers in 2024 to 11.8 thousand by 2034, so the field is getting smaller.
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Automation and CNC upgrades reduce the need for manual machine setters, which creates a real structural ceiling for long-term growth.
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The pay is only moderate for a job that demands precision all day, and the median wage stays under $50,000.
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The work can be repetitive and physically demanding, with long stretches of standing, lifting, and dealing with noise or coolant.
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Mistakes are expensive: one bad setup can waste material, slow a production run, and put pressure on the whole shop.
Career Progression
Machine Operator Trainee
0-2 years
$33K-$40K
Learns shop safety, basic machine operation, and how to handle parts and measuring tools without damaging materials.
Milling and Planing Machine Operator
2-6 years
$44K-$55K
Sets up machines, watches the cut, and keeps parts within tolerance on routine production jobs.
Senior Machinist / Setup Specialist THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$56K-$68K
Handles tougher setups, solves machining problems, and helps newer operators avoid scrap.
Lead Machinist / Shop Supervisor
10+ years
$69K-$84K
Oversees work assignments, quality checks, and changeovers for a small team or production cell.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 47.3% of workers in this role, usually followed by moderate-term on-the-job training.
Postsecondary certificate in machining or CNC
A practical alternative used by 15.03% of workers, especially for people who want faster access to shop-floor training and machine setup skills.
Bachelor's degree in manufacturing technology or a related field
A less common route, held by 18.83% of workers, and it can help if you want to move toward process improvement, quality, or supervision.
Apprenticeship or employer-sponsored CNC training
A realistic non-degree path for people who learn best by doing, often paired with hands-on training and industry certificates.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring with CNC Machines 72%
Machine Controls, Feed Rates & Cut Depths 60%
Blueprint Reading, Tolerances & Shop Math 53%
Workpiece Alignment with Calipers, Gauges & Rules 53%
Quality Control Inspection & Dimensional Checks 47%
Reading Work Orders, Specs & Setup Sheets 47%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailProblem solvingClear communicationActive listeningPatience and focusHand-eye coordination Job Outlook and Trends
+-14.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 13.8K to 11.8 K over the next decade, representing -14.4% growth. Around 1.1 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.