Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (51-4035) work in a specialized production role that combines mechanical ability, precision, and problem-solving. Nationally, there are about 14,000 workers in this occupation, with a national median annual salary of $48,310. The work draws on mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, physical strength and stamina, and strong attention to detail. It also benefits from mathematics, science, critical and analytical thinking, and comfort with computers and information technology. Creativity, innovation, and adaptability can help workers handle changing production needs or processes. While projected employment growth is -14.4%, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings, which may come from turnover and replacement needs. People interested in related roles can also explore other metal and plastic worker occupations such as molding and casting machine operators, patternmakers, or more broadly defined production worker roles. This career can appeal to those who enjoy hands-on, mechanically focused work that requires precision and consistent performance.
The national median annual salary for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $48,310. Earnings vary notably by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $56,080 in Maryland to $86,460 in Washington, with California and New York also above the national median. At the metro level, pay ranges from $49,630 in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area to $105,430 in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. Several major metros, including New York-Newark-Jersey City and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, offer median wages above or near the national level. These differences show that location can significantly influence earning potential in this occupation. Workers who are flexible about where they live may be able to target areas such as select Washington and California metros that report higher median salaries for this field.
National employment for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic stands at about 14,000 workers. Projected employment growth is -14.4%, indicating an overall decline in the number of jobs over time. Despite this negative growth rate, the occupation is expected to have about 1,000 annual openings. These openings can provide opportunities for new entrants or career changers even as overall employment levels decrease. The same -14.4% growth projection appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting that the declining trend is broad-based rather than localized. For individuals considering this path, the data points to a competitive environment where openings exist but total positions are shrinking. People interested in this area may also want to explore similar occupations such as other metal and plastic workers, molding and casting machine operators, patternmakers, or broader production worker categories as related alternatives.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic. Among states, California stands out with an opportunity score of 67.38, median salary of $59,050, and employment of 1,960, giving it both relatively high pay and the largest employment base listed. New York and Washington also show strong opportunity scores (65.78 and 56.29) but differ in wages and scale: New York combines a median salary of $56,560 with 550 jobs, while Washington reports a higher median salary of $86,460 but just 240 jobs. Virginia and Maryland have smaller employment levels, moderate salaries in the mid-$50,000s, and opportunity scores in the low- to mid-50s. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City leads with an opportunity score of 77.27, while Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue shows the highest listed median pay at $105,430 but only 110 jobs. California metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim combine solid opportunity scores with notable employment levels.
The typical education level for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and are ready to move directly into a technical production environment. Success in this occupation depends heavily on skill development. Mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and physical strength and stamina are central, reflecting the hands-on and physically demanding aspects of the work. Being detail oriented is important for accuracy and consistency. Mathematics and science knowledge support more technical aspects of the role, while critical and analytical thinking help with problem-solving. Comfort with computers and information technology is also valuable. Adaptability, creativity, and innovation can be beneficial when processes or equipment change. Overall, the combination of a high school education and targeted skill growth provides a pathway into this career and related metal and plastic worker roles.
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