Average salary, compensation, and wages for Machine Setters and Operators in the United States


Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic $18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic 16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders 14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic 14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners 14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 13.56
Pourers and casters, metal 13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers 12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers 13.65






More information on Machine Setters and Operators from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Overview of Machine Setters and Operators occupation
Number of Machine Setters and Operators in the U.S.
Salary and earnings for Machine Setters and Operators
Working conditions for Machine Setters and Operators
Significant points for Machine Setters and Operators
Training requirements for Machine Setters and Operators




Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search
Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new