Explore This Path
Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operator
💰 Earn $45K-$64K
📚 High School Diploma or GED
⏱️ 6–12 Month Training
📈 -14.4% Job Growth
- Perfect for those who love precision and working with their hands on intricate tasks.
- Shape the future by crafting essential components for various industries.
- Master the art of transforming raw materials into precise, functional pieces.
What Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operators DoSet up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
- Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
- Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
- Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
- Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications.
- Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operators Education, Salary, and GrowthOnly you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.
Minimum EducationHigh School Diploma or GED
Career ProspectsRisky (Decreasing by 5% or more)
Training Time6 months to 1 year
Job Openings1,100 Annually
Median Earnings
$54,960 in California
$48,310 Nationally
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Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
- Using data or completing tasks
- Working with my hands
you value
- Having support
- Having freedom
- Job security
you are skilled in
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Time Management
Go Deeper: Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operators Explained
Metal & Plastic Milling Machine OperatorExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?
Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.
Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years
Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years
ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years
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Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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