# Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

> Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/milling-and-planing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic
- SOC code: 51-4035.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $52,800 (10th percentile $37,840, 90th percentile $81,030)
- Projected growth: Decline, -13.2%
- Openings a year: 1,000
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 24 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 56 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 94/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 80/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 78/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 75/100)
- Processing Information (importance 72/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 70/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 68/100)
- Getting Information (importance 67/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Production and Processing, English Language, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Design, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Barrel Rib Matting Machine Operator, Barrel Rifler, Boring Mill Operator, Broacher, Broaching Machine Operator, Broaching Machine Set Up Operator, CNC Licensed Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Licensed Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Operator), CNC Mill Set Up Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Set Up Operator)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Precision Metal Working](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4805) (CIP 4805, 746 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ferris State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ferris-state-university-949) | Precision Metal Working | not reported | $86,941 | $12,000 |
| [Del Mar College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/del-mar-college-782) | Precision Metal Working | $41,304 | $79,303 | not reported |
| [Hennepin Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/hennepin-technical-college-1182) | Precision Metal Working | $68,632 | $76,020 | $11,033 |
| [Des Moines Area Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/des-moines-area-community-college-797) | Precision Metal Working | $65,355 | $75,145 | not reported |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Precision Metal Working | $69,427 | $75,002 | $5,900 |
| [Dunwoody College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dunwoody-college-of-technology-838) | Precision Metal Working | $60,388 | $70,886 | $12,000 |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Precision Metal Working | $63,054 | $70,298 | $19,500 |
| [Austin Community College District](https://www.collegesref.com/college/austin-community-college-district-152) | Precision Metal Working | $46,036 | $69,185 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lathe-and-turning-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $50,620 median pay
- [Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal): $46,550 median pay
- [Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/woodworking-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-except-sawing): $43,380 median pay
- [Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-grinders-filers-and-sharpeners): $50,060 median pay
- [Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/multiple-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $47,180 median pay
- [Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-numerically-controlled-tool-operators): $50,690 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.