Metal and plastic machine workers held about 1.1 million jobs in 2018. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up metal and plastic machine workers was distributed as follows:
| Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 188,800 |
| Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 166,000 |
| Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic | 151,600 |
| Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 135,900 |
| Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 76,500 |
| Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 75,400 |
| Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 40,600 |
| Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 37,700 |
| Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 29,900 |
| Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 27,100 |
| Computer numerically controlled machine tool programmers, metal and plastic | 24,300 |
| Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 20,000 |
| Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 19,800 |
| Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 18,600 |
| Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders | 18,100 |
| Foundry mold and coremakers | 15,900 |
| Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 11,600 |
| Pourers and casters, metal | 8,000 |
| Model makers, metal and plastic | 5,300 |
| Patternmakers, metal and plastic | 2,900 |
The largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers were as follows:
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 26% |
| Plastics and rubber products manufacturing | 16 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 13 |
| Primary metal manufacturing | 12 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 11 |
Injuries and Illnesses
These workers often operate powerful, high-speed machines that can be dangerous, so they must observe safety rules. Operators usually wear protective equipment, such as safety glasses, earplugs, and steel-toed boots to protect them from flying particles of metal or plastic, machine noise, and heavy objects, respectively.
Other required safety equipment varies by work setting and machine. For example, respirators are common for those in the plastics industry who work near materials that emit dangerous fumes or dust.
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Work Schedules
Most metal and plastic machine workers are employed full time. Overtime is common, and because many manufacturers run their machinery for extended periods, evening and weekend work is also common.
Most metal and plastic workers have a high school diploma and learn through on-the-job training typically lasting a year. Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tool programmers, however, typically need to complete courses beyond high school.
Education
Although most metal and plastic machine workers typically have a high school diploma, many computer numerically controlled machine tool programmers usually need to complete coursework beyond high school. Some community colleges and other schools offer courses and certificate programs in operating metal and plastics machines including CNC programming.
For most metal and plastic machine workers, high school courses in computer programming, vocational technology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and basic statistics are considered useful.
Training
Machine operator trainees usually begin by watching and helping experienced workers on the job. Under supervision, they may start by supplying materials, starting and stopping the machines, or by removing finished products. Then they advance to more difficult tasks that operators perform, such as adjusting feed speeds, changing cutting tools, and inspecting a finished product for defects. Eventually, some develop the skills and experience to set up machines.
The complexity of the equipment usually determines the time required to become an operator. Some operators and tenders are trained on basic machine operations and functions in a few months, but other workers, such as computer-controlled machine tool operators, may need up to a year to become trained.
As the manufacturing process continues to utilize more computerized machinery, training on computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and CNC machines can be helpful.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Certification can show competence and can be helpful for advancement. The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) offers certification in numerous metalworking specializations.
Advancement
Advancement usually includes higher pay and more responsibilities. With experience and expertise, workers can become trainees for more advanced positions. It is common for machine operators to move into setup or machinery maintenance positions. Setup workers may become industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers, or machinists or tool and die makers.
Experienced workers with good communication and analytical skills may move into supervisory positions.
Metal and plastic machine workers typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a metal and plastic machine worker, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Metal and plastic machine workers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Computer skills. Employers who have modern technology systems require that metal and plastic machine workers be able to use programmable devices, computers, and robots on the factory floor.
Dexterity. Precise hand movements are necessary in order to produce workpieces that meet exact specifications. Those who work in metal and plastic machined goods manufacturing must have good manual dexterity in order to make the necessary shapes, cuts, and edges that designs require.
Mechanical skills. Although modern technology has brought a lot of computer-based systems to this occupation, workers still set up and operate machinery. They must be comfortable working with machines and have a good understanding of how the machines and all their parts work.
Physical stamina. Metal and plastic machine workers must be able to stand for long periods and perform repetitive work.
Physical strength. Although most material handling is done using automated systems, some metal and plastic machine workers must be strong enough to guide and load heavy and bulky parts and materials into machines.
The median annual wage for metal and plastic machine workers was $36,990 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,200.
Median annual wages for metal and plastic machine workers in May 2019 were as follows:
| Model makers, metal and plastic | $57,020 |
| Computer numerically controlled machine tool programmers, metal and plastic | 56,450 |
| Patternmakers, metal and plastic | 46,910 |
| Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 43,210 |
| Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders | 42,250 |
| Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic | 41,200 |
| Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 40,490 |
| Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 40,100 |
| Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 39,670 |
| Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 38,910 |
| Pourers and casters, metal | 38,620 |
| Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 38,310 |
| Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 38,250 |
| Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 36,330 |
| Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 36,320 |
| Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 36,100 |
| Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 35,610 |
| Foundry mold and coremakers | 35,590 |
| Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 33,500 |
| Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 32,130 |
In May 2019, the median annual wages for metal and plastic machine workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Machinery manufacturing | $40,120 |
| Primary metal manufacturing | 39,280 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 38,870 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 37,390 |
| Plastics and rubber products manufacturing | 32,370 |
Most metal and plastic machine workers are employed full time. Overtime is common, and because many manufacturers run their machinery for extended periods, evening and weekend work also is common.
Employment of metal and plastic machine workers is projected to decline 8 percent from 2018 to 2028. Employment declines are expected to stem from continued advances in technology and foreign competition.
One of the most important factors influencing employment of these occupations is the use of labor-saving machinery. Many firms are adopting technologies such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools and robots to improve quality and lower production costs. The switch to CNC machinery requires computer programmers instead of machine setters, operators, and tenders. Therefore, demand for manual machine tool operators and tenders is likely to be reduced by these new technologies, and conversely, demand for CNC machine programmers is expected to be strong.
The demand for metal and plastic machine workers is also affected by the demand for the parts they produce. Both the plastic and metal manufacturing industries face foreign competition that limits the orders for parts produced in this country. Some U.S. manufacturers have moved their production to foreign countries, reducing jobs for machine setters and operators. However, some companies are bringing jobs back to the United States from overseas, and this is expected to continue over the coming decade.
Job Prospects
Most job opportunities will result from the need to replace workers who leave these occupations.
Workers who are able to operate CNC machines and have industry certifications should also have best job prospects.
For more information about metal and plastic machine workers, including training and certification, visit
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)
For information about manufacturing careers, machinery, and equipment, visit
Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA)