Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC code 51-4032 · O*NET-SOC 51-4032.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$49,080
a year
Hourly
$23.60
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$51,810
$24.91 per hour
Middle 50%
$41,710 – $57,940
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,300 – $68,410
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
4,680
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,300
- $17.45/hr
- 25th percentile
- $41,710
- $20.05/hr
- Median percentile
- $49,080
- $23.60/hr
- 75th percentile
- $57,940
- $27.85/hr
- 90th percentile
- $68,410
- $32.89/hr
What do drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
- Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
- Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
- Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
- Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
- Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
- Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
- Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 57% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)57%
- Some College Courses12%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree12%
- Less than a High School Diploma10%
Common questions
How much does a drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?
The national median is $49,080 a year. The full range runs from $36,300 at the 10th percentile to $68,410 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics4.4/5
- Production and Processing4.4/5
- Mechanical4.3/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Engineering and Technology3.5/5
- Education and Training3.3/5
- Design3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.