Production · Holland code RCI

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

Also called: CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist), Drill Operator, Drill Setup Operator, Machine Operator, Bore Mill Operator, CNC Drilling Operator (Computer Numerical Control Drilling Operator), Drill Press Operator, Punch Operator.

O*NET 51-4032.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $49,080; Middle half earn $41,710 to $57,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 57% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Reading Comprehension3.1 / 5
Monitoring3.1 / 5
Active Listening3.0 / 5
Speaking3.0 / 5
Critical Thinking3.0 / 5
Active Learning2.8 / 5

Knowledge areas

Mathematics4.4 / 5
Production and Processing4.4 / 5
Mechanical4.3 / 5
English Language4.0 / 5
Engineering and Technology3.5 / 5
Education and Training3.3 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic100
Investigative29
Artistic0
Social0
Enterprising0
Conventional54

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

boring machine operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Ausbohrmaschine/Maschinenbedienerin für Ausbohrmaschine · FR aléseur/aléseuse
metal nibbling operator · DE Metallstanzer/Metallstanzerin · FR grignoteur/grignoteuse
drilling machine operator · DE CNC-Bohrer/CNC-Bohrerin · FR opérateur sur perceuse/opératrice sur perceuse
drill press operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Ständerbohrmaschine/Maschinenbedienerin für Ständerbohrmaschine · FR opérateur sur perceuse à colonne/opératrice sur perceuse à colonne
wood boring machine operator · DE Holzbohrmaschinenbediener/Hozbohrmaschinenbedienerin · FR opérateur de machine à percer le bois/opératrice de machine à percer le bois
driller · DE Bohranlagenbediener/Bohranlagenbedienerin · FR foreur de roche/foreuse de roche

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Metal machining setters and setter-operators (5221)40,400 employed
Mining and quarry workers and related operatives (8132)9,200 employed
Metal working machine operatives (8120)28,100 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Craft and related trades workers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€40,086
Germany	€38,638
Austria	€38,194
Sweden	€37,856
Netherlands	€37,077
Ireland	€36,098
France	€27,145
Italy	€26,488
Spain	€22,817
Portugal	€11,142
Poland	€10,099

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.76. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-4032).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test