Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
Production Occupations · 12K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$52,800
Median hourly
$25
Average annual
$56,740
Typical range
$37,840–$81,030
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $52,800 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $25 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces..
Most earn between $37,840 and $81,030 a year. There are roughly 12K people employed as milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
- Hourly
- $25.38
- Daily
- $203
- Weekly
- $1,015
- Bi-weekly
- $2,031
- Monthly
- $4,400
- Annual
- $52,800
$52,800 a year is around the 50th percentile for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics. The median is $52,800.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$86,460
- 2Connecticut$79,300
- 3Kentucky$66,440
- 4Illinois$63,360
- 5Massachusetts$62,380
- 6Nebraska$59,630
- 7California$59,050
- 8Wisconsin$58,770
- 9Indiana$57,720
- 10New York$56,560
- 11Virginia$56,410
- 12Maryland$56,080
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$105,430
- 2Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$66,440
- 3Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$65,540
- 4Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$63,360
- 5Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$62,530
- 6Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$62,220
- 7Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$61,340
- 8Youngstown-Warren, OH$60,380
- 9Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$60,140
- 10Springfield, MA$59,260
- 11San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$59,050
- 12Elkhart-Goshen, IN$59,040
Related job titles
Employers advertise Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles under these titles.
- Barrel Rib Matting Machine Operator
- Barrel Rifler
- Boring Mill Operator
- Broacher
- Broaching Machine Operator
- Broaching Machine Set Up Operator
- Escape Wheel Tooth Cutter
- File Cutter
- Gear Roller
- Grind Operator
- Keyseater Operator
- Keyseating Machine Set Up Operator
- Lever Miller
- Machine Shop Pantograph Machine Operator
- Magnesium Mill Operator
- Manual Mill Operator
Related occupations
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,690
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,080
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570
What a Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic does
- Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
- Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.
- Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
- Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
- Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
- Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
- The median annual wage for Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $52,800 ($25 per hour). Pay ranges from about $37,840 at the 10th percentile to $81,030 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $56,740, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $86,460.
- Is Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 12K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do?
- Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.; Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.; Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics..