Explore This Path

Metal & Plastic Turning Machine Operator

💰 Earn $48K-$69K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 Month Training

📈 -11.3% Job Growth

Perfect for those who love precision and working with their hands.
Shape essential components for industries, ensuring quality and accuracy.
Master the art of transforming raw materials into vital machine parts.

What Metal & Plastic Turning Machine Operators DoSet 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.

Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.
Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.

Metal & Plastic Turning Machine Operators Education, Salary, and Growth

Minimum EducationHigh School Diploma or GED

Career ProspectsRisky (Decreasing by 5% or more)

Training Time6 months to 1 year

Job Openings1,400 Annually

Median earnings

California Median

$60,180

Most earn within this range

median ▾

$48K25th percentile

$69K75th percentile

National Median

$50,620

Most earn within this range

median ▾

$43K25th percentile

$61K75th percentile

Only 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.

Is This Career Right For You?

YOU Like

Thinking and problem solving
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

you value

Accomplishing things
Having support
Having freedom

you are skilled in

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Equipment Maintenance
Quality Control Analysis
Repairing

Go Deeper: Metal & Plastic Turning Machine Operators Explained

Metal & Plastic Turning 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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