Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic resume
What the work involves, what it pays, and real lines you can start from. Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume.
Also called automatic spinning lathe setter, gear setter, screw machine setter and screw machine tool setter.
$50,620
Median pay a year
16,710
People do this work
6
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Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
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A Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic resume, filled in
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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
Summary
Lathe and turning machine tool setter operating machines to turn, bore, thread, and form metal or plastic materials. Adjusting controls, inspecting workpieces, and maintaining tools to meet specifications in a safe workspace
Experience
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Adjusted machine controls and changed tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances
Started lathe or turning machines and observed operations to ensure that specifications were met
Inspected sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using gauges and micrometers
Studied blueprints and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions
Replaced worn tools and sharpened dull cutting tools using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines
Lifted metal stock and positioned them in machines using fasteners and hand tools
Cleaned work area to maintain a safe and organized workspace
Skills
Hands-On Work
Mounting attachments or tools, Cleaning work areas
Core Skills
Reviewing blueprints and instructions, Reading work orders or instructions, Monitoring equipment operation, Conducting test runs of equipment, Measuring product dimensions, Calculating equipment, Installing mechanical components, Selecting production equipment
Education
High School Diploma Your school, Year
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Adjusted machine controls and tool settingsSet cutting speeds and depthsStudied blueprints and job ordersInspected workpieces for qualityReplaced and sharpened cutting toolsStarted machines and checked operations
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Adjusted machine controls and tool settings to maintain precise dimensions and specifications
Studied blueprints and job orders to gather information on production requirements
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Add how often you adjusted the machine controls and settings
The line
Adjusted machine controls and tool settings several times each shift to maintain precise dimensions and specifications
Add how often you adjusted the machine controls and settings
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Several times each shiftEvery few hours during productionRegularly throughout the day
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Show what improved once you studied the blueprints and job orders
The line
Studied blueprints and job orders to gather information on production requirements
Show what improved once you studied the blueprints and job orders
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Reduced errors in productionImproved setup time for jobsEnsured accurate material usage
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What it is made of
Skills for a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic resume
What this work is made of. Rung offers these and keeps the ones you claim.
What are you good at?
Mounting attachments or tools
Reviewing blueprints and instructions
Reading work orders or instructions
Monitoring equipment operation
Conducting test runs of equipment
Measuring product dimensions
Calculating equipment
Selecting production equipment
Cleaning work areas
Installing mechanical components
Feeding materials or products
Mounting materials or workpieces
The work itself
What a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
What it pays
How much does a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$43,250
Median
$50,620
75th percentile
$60,700
About 16,710 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
AL
$48,250
$58,490
$61,620
AR
$31,860
$39,060
$43,250
AZ
$54,300
$55,840
$63,040
CA
$48,130
$60,180
$68,740
CO
$60,600
$71,670
$78,970
CT
$38,730
$49,380
$65,910
FL
$39,350
$44,710
$50,320
GA
$44,170
$50,180
$58,460
IA
$48,860
$50,370
$58,390
IL
$44,550
$54,930
$57,330
IN
$47,380
$49,420
$59,090
KS
$42,620
$47,310
$65,700
KY
$39,730
$47,060
$52,050
LA
$43,890
$50,560
$64,630
MA
$48,520
$60,870
$68,930
MD
$51,410
$54,860
$63,560
ME
$45,830
$64,800
$66,510
MI
$39,190
$46,680
$59,450
MN
$48,760
$61,000
$64,960
MO
$44,950
$48,950
$57,240
NC
$44,780
$53,840
$61,360
NE
$44,690
$47,350
$59,860
NH
$46,650
$48,980
$54,390
NJ
$41,480
$48,180
$62,610
NV
$48,560
$58,240
$69,910
NY
$45,090
$50,760
$61,740
OH
$44,730
$49,880
$60,840
OK
$36,670
$43,680
$52,220
OR
$38,860
$41,640
$57,430
PA
$47,180
$57,020
$66,500
SC
$44,820
$49,490
$61,960
TN
$37,770
$40,730
$55,850
TX
$32,210
$48,020
$55,460
VA
$41,360
$48,920
$58,410
WI
$44,980
$51,020
$60,440
WV
$52,380
$53,660
$61,190
Other names
Other names for this job
automatic spinning lathe setter, gear setter, screw machine setter, screw machine tool setter, threading machine setter, tool setter, lathe and turning machine tool setters operators and tenders metal and plastic, automatic screwmaker, automatic spinning lathe operator, axle turner, back facer, balance recesser.
This page is about the occupation Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.