What do they do?
Set 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.
Also known as:
Computer Numerical Control Lathe Operator (CNC Lathe Operator), Lathe Operator, Lathe Set Up Person, Machine Operator, Numerical Control Operator (NC Operator), Screw Machine Operator, Screw Machine Tool Setter, Setup Operator, Tool Setter, Turn Operator
No Data Available
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-6.9%
Change
Ranks #45 in job growth rate170Job Openings
Ranks #4 in net job growth
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Colleges with the most graduates that become Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO
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NTMA Training Centers of Southern California
Santa Fe Springs, CA
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Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA
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Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Hartsville, TN
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- Doctorate or Professional Degree (<1%)
- Master's degree (2%)
- Bachelor's degree (2%)
- Associate's degree (5%)
- Some college, no degree (29%)
- High school diploma equivalent (47%)
- Less than high school diploma (15%)
People in this career often have talent in:
- Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
People in this career often do these activities:
- Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.
- Replace worn equipment components.
- Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
- Operate cutting equipment.
- Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
- Conduct test runs of production equipment.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
- Select production equipment according to product specifications.
- Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
- Perform basic equipment maintenance.
- Install mechanical components in production equipment.
- Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
- Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
- Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
- Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
This page includes data from:
Career data: O*NET 28.1 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
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