Production · Holland code RC

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.

Also called: Cell Technician, CNC Machine Setter (Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Setter), Machine Operator, Machine Technician, Fabrication Set-Up Person, Injection Molding Technician, Mold Setter, Production Operator.

O*NET 51-4081.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $47,180; Middle half earn $39,420 to $57,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 82% 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.

Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.
Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
Read blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences.
Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
Observe machine operation to detect workpiece defects or machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, cutters, shears, borers, millers, grinders, presses, drills, or auxiliary machines, to make metallic and plastic workpieces.
Measure and mark reference points and cutting lines on workpieces, using traced templates, compasses, and rules.
Change worn machine accessories, such as cutting tools or brushes, using hand tools.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Monitoring3.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension3.0 / 5
Active Listening3.0 / 5
Speaking3.0 / 5
Critical Thinking3.0 / 5
Active Learning2.9 / 5

Knowledge areas

Production and Processing4.1 / 5
Mechanical3.9 / 5
Mathematics3.6 / 5
English Language3.3 / 5
Design3.1 / 5
Education and Training2.9 / 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
Investigative21
Artistic0
Social1
Enterprising0
Conventional60

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)

tool and die maker · DE Werkzeugbautechniker/Werkzeugbautechnikerin · FR ajusteur-outilleur/ajusteuse-outilleuse
metal nibbling operator · DE Metallstanzer/Metallstanzerin · FR grignoteur/grignoteuse
screw machine operator · DE Maschinenbediener in der Schraubenherstellung/Maschinenbedienerin in der Schraubenherstellung · FR décolleteur/décolleteuse
straightening machine operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Richtmaschine/Maschinenbedienerin für Richtmaschine · FR dresseur/dresseuse
swaging machine operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Gesenkschmiedeanlage/Maschinenbedienerin für Gesenkschmiedeanlage · FR opérateur sur machine à rétreindre/opératrice sur machine à rétreindre
punch press operator · DE Metallstanzer/Metallstanzerin · FR opérateur sur machine à poinçonner/opératrice sur machine à poinçonner

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out (5222)8,600 employed
Metal machining setters and setter-operators (5221)40,400 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 -0.74. 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 (51-4081).

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