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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Sets up and runs the machines that shape metal, plastic and other materials.
Read the full guide
Machine operators set up, run and watch machines in factories. Some run presses, lathes, drills and grinders. Others run extruders and molding machines that make plastic parts, or furnaces and molds in a foundry. Some heat-treat or plate metal, or sharpen tools. They load material, check parts with measuring tools, and adjust the machine when something is off. Setters who can change over machines earn more.
Open the machine operator guide
The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.
High school courses that build toward it
- Welding and Metal Fabrication · Career and Technical
Builds how things are made, which this job uses.
- Algebra I · Math
Builds math, which this job uses.
- Computer Science Principles · Computer Science
Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.
- English 10 · English
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Physics · Science
Builds math, which this job uses.
- Physical Education · Health and PE
Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.
Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.