Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median salary of $48,310 per year, ranking in the top 68% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -14.4% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?

The median annual wage for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $48,310. That puts milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at #552 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is -14.4%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 13K positions in 2024 to 11K in 2034, a net change of -2K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
2. 2.Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
3. 3.Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.
4. 4.Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
5. 5.Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
6. 6.Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
7. 7.Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
8. 8.Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations.

Top skills for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic