What do they do?

Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.

Also known as:

Cell Technician, CNC Machine Setter (Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Setter), Fabrication Set-Up Person, Injection Molding Technician, Machine Operator, Machine Technician, Mold Setter, Production Operator, Shear Operator, Tooling Set-Up Person

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Projected Employment For All United States

No Data Available
  • 0.6%

    Change

    Select a state to see its job growth rate ranking
    13,600

    Job Openings

    Select a state to see its net job growth ranking

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • High school diploma equivalent  (48%)
  • Some college, no degree  (21%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (18%)
  • Associate's degree  (7%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (5%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • 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.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto 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.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
  • Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.
  • Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
  • Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
  • Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures.
  • Program equipment to perform production tasks.
  • Write computer programming code.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
  • Clear equipment jams.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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