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

Overview

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has a national median salary of $49,080 per year, with -9.5% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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

Work Values

• Support
• Relationships
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.

Work Activities

• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Working with Computers
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Processing Information

Detailed Work Activities

• Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Video Resources