Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and P: Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic	$18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.56
Pourers and casters, metal	13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers	12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers	13.65

Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic held about 1.3 million jobs in 2002. Approximately 9 of 10 jobs were found in manufacturing. About 38 percent of all employment was in these manufacturing industries: transportation equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic by detailed occupation.

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	283,000
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	151,000
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	104,000
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	99,000
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	98,000
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	75,000
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	53,000
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	45,000
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,000
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,000
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	26,000
Foundry mold and coremakers	23,000
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,000
Pourers and casters, metal	13,000
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	13,000
Model makers, metal and plastic	8,500
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	6,500
All other metal workers and plastic workers	104,000

(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic)

See more recent statistics for employed workers below.

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Earnings

Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
	Percentile annual earnings, $
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
National
U.S. employment: 29,820 mean earnings: $32,150	19,740	24,530	31,490	38,760	45,820
State and Metro Area
Alabama (ACS) (EAG) employment: 360 mean earnings: $35,600	21,030	25,950	34,980	44,750	53,200
Birmingham, AL employment: 130 mean earnings: $44,280	32,500	38,800	45,370	51,810	55,750
Florence, AL employment: 80 mean earnings: $27,230	15,860	19,600	26,240	35,030	40,440
Arizona (ACS) (EAG) employment: 470 mean earnings: $27,170	12,790	15,290	26,270	37,430	43,650
Phoenix - Mesa, AZ employment: 380 mean earnings: $25,970	12,510	14,300	25,290	36,460	42,670
Tucson, AZ employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,330	19,470	22,110	27,520	40,460	45,750
Arkansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 180 mean earnings: $28,470	19,910	23,050	26,660	32,400	41,530
Little Rock - North Little Rock, AR employment: 60 mean earnings: $30,170	24,040	25,550	28,070	34,540	41,260
California (ACS) (EAG) employment: 3,170 mean earnings: $30,750	17,900	21,580	29,430	38,550	46,120
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA employment: 940 mean earnings: $27,280	16,480	18,470	24,190	34,360	45,050
Oakland, CA employment: 110 mean earnings: $30,280	19,370	21,630	27,660	37,100	48,600
Orange County, CA employment: 700 mean earnings: $32,720	19,780	24,450	33,890	40,300	44,420
Riverside - San Bernardino, CA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 260 mean earnings: $29,830	19,930	22,950	27,900	34,550	43,630
Sacramento, CA employment: 50 mean earnings: $38,570	23,010	27,780	39,150	46,890	54,910
San Diego, CA employment: 290 mean earnings: $32,280	21,810	25,420	30,570	38,700	45,100
San Francisco, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,010	16,540	18,510	27,830	36,620	44,840
San Jose, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $46,330	32,870	39,180	46,620	54,100	60,960
Santa Barbara - Santa Maria - Lompoc, CA employment: 30 mean earnings: $27,460	20,480	22,850	25,080	27,790	42,780
Santa Rosa, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,360	20,690	22,970	30,150	36,490	43,330
Ventura, CA employment: 110 mean earnings: $30,210	20,380	23,040	28,150	37,240	43,720
Colorado (ACS) (EAG) employment: 220 mean earnings: $30,910	19,990	23,800	28,380	36,090	44,230
Denver, CO employment: 120 mean earnings: $33,730	21,110	25,490	31,440	39,190	53,150
Fort Collins - Loveland, CO employment: 30 mean earnings: $28,070	18,930	21,800	25,900	33,620	41,920
Connecticut (ACS) (EAG) employment: 710 mean earnings: $36,590	23,720	28,360	36,000	43,100	52,550
Bridgeport, CT employment: 110 mean earnings: $31,730	23,330	25,440	29,990	38,120	43,920
Danbury, CT employment: 30 mean earnings: $37,980	29,330	31,600	35,170	43,640	53,430
Hartford, CT employment: 400 mean earnings: $39,580	23,830	31,600	39,620	45,190	56,880
New Haven - Meriden, CT employment: 100 mean earnings: $32,510	24,090	26,800	31,050	35,190	44,920
New London - Norwich, CT - RI employment: 40 mean earnings: $32,890	24,010	26,970	33,000	38,610	43,900
Florida (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 610 mean earnings: $31,040	21,100	25,150	30,710	36,230	42,850
Miami, FL employment: 40 mean earnings: $27,660	19,270	22,220	26,180	33,130	40,380
Orlando, FL employment: 80 mean earnings: $27,750	20,230	23,080	26,410	31,540	38,320
Sarasota - Bradenton, FL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,830	23,360	27,890	33,300	39,800	46,390
Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater, FL employment: 140 mean earnings: $30,340	23,230	25,880	30,430	34,740	39,570
Georgia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 570 mean earnings: $26,480	18,550	20,920	26,060	31,290	35,150
Atlanta, GA employment: 210 mean earnings: $25,930	16,820	19,030	23,280	32,420	37,650
Augusta - Aiken, GA - SC employment: 40 mean earnings: $20,160	15,770	17,200	18,660	21,130	26,340
Idaho (ACS) (EAG) employment: 70 mean earnings: $23,860	15,820	17,680	21,640	28,340	35,990
Illinois (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,040 mean earnings: $31,940	19,720	24,990	31,960	37,850	44,760
Chicago, IL employment: 1,340 mean earnings: $31,420	19,000	23,250	31,430	37,700	45,570
Peoria - Pekin, IL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $37,630	30,120	33,300	38,030	42,450	45,130
Rockford, IL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $34,790	25,390	28,930	35,050	40,660	44,360
Indiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,990 mean earnings: $35,910	23,600	28,030	34,530	43,140	52,240
Elkhart - Goshen, IN employment: 390 mean earnings: $41,820	33,320	37,650	41,760	46,320	53,030
Fort Wayne, IN employment: 330 mean earnings: $32,980	22,830	26,510	32,360	39,240	45,180
Gary, IN employment: 80 mean earnings: $38,720	23,850	27,750	35,170	50,320	54,910
Indianapolis, IN employment: 430 mean earnings: $35,870	24,880	29,750	34,280	42,130	51,160
South Bend, IN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,610	25,110	29,670	32,930	36,110	40,930
Iowa (ACS) (EAG) employment: 640 mean earnings: $33,350	23,060	28,710	32,460	36,130	47,860
Kansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 380 mean earnings: $31,080	20,020	23,140	30,890	36,760	44,430
Wichita, KS employment: 180 mean earnings: $33,140	20,250	24,010	32,610	41,680	47,940
Kentucky (ACS) (EAG) employment: 390 mean earnings: $31,990	21,560	25,630	31,670	39,430	43,850
Louisville, KY - IN employment: 100 mean earnings: $33,000	20,510	24,160	28,450	42,960	50,790
Louisiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,160	17,950	23,770	30,260	36,880	43,220
Maine (ACS) (EAG) employment: 60 mean earnings: $26,960	20,080	22,760	26,250	30,980	34,460
Maryland (ACS) (EAG) employment: 380 mean earnings: $44,480	26,490	35,500	48,960	54,910	58,740
Baltimore, MD employment: 140 mean earnings: $33,780	24,280	27,420	33,150	39,540	45,010
Massachusetts (ACS) (EAG) employment: 780 mean earnings: $40,500	25,710	32,100	39,750	48,650	56,680
Boston, MA - NH employment: 370 mean earnings: $45,940	32,260	38,670	45,760	53,650	61,700
Lowell, MA - NH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,480	23,740	26,750	32,600	40,330	45,440
Worcester, MA - CT employment: 40 mean earnings: $41,540	36,400	38,820	41,670	44,530	47,750
Michigan (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 1,750 mean earnings: $35,690	21,510	26,990	34,280	43,040	52,920
Ann Arbor, MI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,550	19,330	25,750	34,090	41,080	46,280
Detroit, MI employment: 620 mean earnings: $37,180	22,210	27,590	37,000	45,890	53,940
Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Holland, MI employment: 260 mean earnings: $39,960	24,100	28,430	34,220	47,360	68,970
Kalamazoo - Battle Creek, MI Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 210 mean earnings: $38,150	22,520	30,530	38,670	46,720	53,450
Lansing - East Lansing, MI employment: 110 mean earnings: $35,170	24,090	31,000	36,780	41,160	44,080
Saginaw - Bay City - Midland, MI employment: 50 mean earnings: $39,260	30,530	33,590	38,610	44,200	51,740
Minnesota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 530 mean earnings: $34,970	25,200	29,900	34,890	40,960	44,940
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN - WI employment: 360 mean earnings: $37,240	28,290	32,160	37,970	42,900	46,000
Mississippi (ACS) (EAG) employment: 190 mean earnings: $24,740	17,990	19,580	22,190	28,610	34,680
Missouri (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 750 mean earnings: $31,200	21,240	25,340	31,010	37,590	42,740
Joplin, MO employment: n.a. mean earnings: $26,450	20,890	24,090	26,620	29,890	33,370
Kansas City, MO - KS employment: 100 mean earnings: $33,490	21,960	26,470	33,750	40,750	44,650
St. Louis, MO - IL employment: 200 mean earnings: $32,020	20,940	26,650	32,440	38,450	43,340
Springfield, MO Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 110 mean earnings: $26,140	19,120	20,970	26,800	31,740	34,260
Montana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 70 mean earnings: $28,140	16,390	20,690	27,520	34,480	42,320
Nebraska (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $25,120	19,490	21,770	25,060	27,960	31,890
Nevada (ACS) (EAG) employment: 50 mean earnings: $29,210	22,830	25,840	29,840	33,120	35,110
New Hampshire (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $31,540	20,560	24,820	31,760	37,640	43,430
New Jersey (ACS) (EAG) employment: 360 mean earnings: $31,370	17,720	25,050	32,110	37,590	44,100
Bergen - Passaic, NJ employment: 60 mean earnings: $35,590	23,700	30,190	34,680	41,690	49,530
Middlesex - Somerset - Hunterdon, NJ employment: n.a. mean earnings: $37,120	22,140	31,840	38,660	43,690	49,320
Newark, NJ employment: 100 mean earnings: $25,290	14,300	16,560	22,060	34,680	40,790
New York (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $31,720	19,450	24,350	31,380	38,130	45,600
Binghamton, NY employment: 70 mean earnings: $28,170	20,850	24,160	28,050	33,010	36,080
Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY employment: 100 mean earnings: $31,300	21,990	27,280	31,840	35,780	41,170
Elmira, NY employment: 40 mean earnings: $31,800	28,680	30,030	32,140	34,240	35,510
Jamestown, NY employment: 60 mean earnings: $25,780	16,850	19,660	24,020	31,700	38,160
Nassau - Suffolk, NY employment: 140 mean earnings: n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
New York, NY Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 180 mean earnings: $26,270	17,080	19,850	24,410	33,060	39,030
Rochester, NY employment: 210 mean earnings: $29,740	20,790	24,810	29,210	34,860	40,860
North Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,170 mean earnings: $28,600	19,000	21,780	27,160	35,070	42,020
Charlotte - Gastonia - Rock Hill, NC - SC employment: 190 mean earnings: $30,330	21,180	24,740	29,830	35,160	42,410
Greensboro - - Winston - Salem - - High Point, NC employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,020	19,900	24,930	30,360	38,050	42,770
Hickory - Morganton - Lenoir, NC employment: 30 mean earnings: $27,920	19,700	21,950	26,940	32,620	36,080
Raleigh - Durham - Chapel Hill, NC employment: 60 mean earnings: $24,550	13,420	17,280	25,960	29,220	34,790
Ohio (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,140 mean earnings: $31,560	20,150	24,820	31,190	38,250	44,650
Akron, OH employment: 190 mean earnings: $30,020	19,490	22,950	28,630	37,060	43,540
Canton - Massillon, OH employment: 110 mean earnings: $29,770	20,460	24,600	29,490	34,250	39,890
Cincinnati, OH - KY - IN employment: 470 mean earnings: $32,030	23,120	26,020	31,260	37,770	43,840
Cleveland - Lorain - Elyria, OH employment: 490 mean earnings: $33,590	17,280	25,750	33,820	42,380	48,930
Dayton - Springfield, OH employment: 210 mean earnings: $31,240	20,250	25,120	31,590	37,630	43,050
Lima, OH employment: 70 mean earnings: $37,910	26,690	33,030	40,220	44,060	46,360
Youngstown - Warren, OH employment: 40 mean earnings: $31,500	24,130	28,400	31,540	34,540	39,850
Oklahoma (ACS) (EAG) employment: 540 mean earnings: $27,140	18,530	20,920	26,040	32,510	37,730
Oklahoma City, OK employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,780	20,940	26,840	31,460	34,800	38,350
Tulsa, OK employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,920	18,030	19,710	22,940	30,320	40,110
Oregon (ACS) (EAG) employment: 310 mean earnings: $35,380	23,150	28,250	33,740	41,250	49,390
Portland - Vancouver, OR - WA employment: 250 mean earnings: $36,460	25,230	29,530	34,160	41,570	51,890
Pennsylvania (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,580 mean earnings: $33,090	21,070	26,540	32,990	40,160	45,140
Allentown - Bethlehem - Easton, PA employment: 40 mean earnings: $31,760	24,130	26,320	30,020	36,470	42,970
Erie, PA employment: 60 mean earnings: $34,410	18,380	28,400	35,060	43,160	46,730
Harrisburg - Lebanon - Carlisle, PA employment: 120 mean earnings: $36,150	22,360	31,030	37,140	42,730	47,100
Lancaster, PA employment: 50 mean earnings: $32,460	21,910	26,260	32,020	37,880	44,400
Philadelphia, PA - NJ employment: 330 mean earnings: $34,110	24,870	29,120	32,990	38,930	45,020
Pittsburgh, PA employment: 270 mean earnings: $33,520	23,000	26,890	32,790	40,790	45,940
Scranton - - Wilkes - Barre - - Hazleton, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,380	23,360	26,690	31,230	35,750	42,560
York, PA employment: 200 mean earnings: $33,210	20,120	22,890	37,490	42,240	45,190
Rhode Island (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $32,790	22,550	27,170	32,900	38,690	43,790
Providence - Fall River - Warwick, RI - MA employment: 280 mean earnings: $32,460	21,860	26,710	32,530	38,410	43,660
South Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 770 mean earnings: $30,930	19,810	24,300	31,310	36,040	42,750
Columbia, SC employment: 50 mean earnings: $24,890	16,990	20,180	25,030	28,500	33,780
Greenville - Spartanburg - Anderson, SC employment: 240 mean earnings: $33,690	20,060	24,340	36,980	42,120	45,210
South Dakota (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 40 mean earnings: $26,510	19,780	23,070	26,390	29,700	34,530
Tennessee (ACS) (EAG) employment: 620 mean earnings: $28,490	17,570	22,200	30,630	34,420	37,170
Chattanooga, TN - GA employment: 60 mean earnings: $24,080	15,230	16,380	19,010	32,630	35,640
Nashville, TN employment: 70 mean earnings: $29,840	17,910	21,630	30,440	37,800	42,430
Texas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,570 mean earnings: $29,900	18,190	21,840	28,740	37,830	43,620
Dallas, TX employment: 170 mean earnings: $25,710	16,250	18,630	21,700	31,050	43,220
Fort Worth - Arlington, TX employment: 90 mean earnings: $30,610	18,540	23,950	28,490	38,210	44,050
Houston, TX employment: 420 mean earnings: $33,990	23,380	28,590	33,690	40,090	44,710
San Antonio, TX employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,100	18,930	21,500	27,680	37,670	42,220
Vermont (ACS) (EAG) employment: 140 mean earnings: $25,630	18,760	20,330	23,580	31,270	35,430
Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 240 mean earnings: $31,030	20,930	26,200	32,020	35,720	39,980
Washington (ACS) (EAG) employment: 190 mean earnings: $40,090	20,370	26,040	37,280	56,780	65,390
Seattle - Bellevue - Everett, WA employment: 110 mean earnings: $44,040	23,150	30,010	41,620	60,710	67,340
West Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 280 mean earnings: $29,720	22,130	26,090	30,950	34,220	36,400
Wisconsin (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,200 mean earnings: $32,370	22,420	27,000	32,030	36,980	44,010
Appleton - Oshkosh - Neenah, WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,130	25,010	27,510	31,380	36,860	42,250
Green Bay, WI employment: 80 mean earnings: $39,110	31,580	34,900	39,490	43,630	46,290
Kenosha, WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,300	20,550	27,840	32,830	37,540	43,620
Madison, WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,100	19,630	24,010	31,790	39,930	44,270
Milwaukee - Waukesha, WI employment: 360 mean earnings: $34,090	21,620	25,720	33,220	42,180	50,440
Sheboygan, WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,550	21,000	28,800	32,350	35,850	40,820
Wausau, WI employment: 30 mean earnings: $26,450	19,320	20,790	23,490	32,110	39,980
Puerto Rico (ACS) (EAG) employment: 30 mean earnings: $24,210	13,150	18,640	21,350	28,290	40,830

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The highlighted text indicates the maximum values in each column among the states and metropolitan areas.

The (ACS) links lead to data from the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

The (EAG) links lead to U.S. Economy at a Glance data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.