Also called: Milling and Planing Machine Operators
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic build operations monitoring, operation and control and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (92%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 92% | $50,690 | −4% | None |
| 2 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 89% | $46,570 | −12% | None |
| 3 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 87% | $43,380 | −18% | None |
| 4 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 83% | $53,710 | +2% | None |
| 5 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 82% | $46,350 | −12% | None |
| 6 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 82% | $45,760 | −13% | None |
| 7 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 81% | $61,770 | +17% | None |
| 8 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 81% | $46,460 | −12% | None |
| 9 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | 80% | $77,320 | +46% | None |
| 10 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 80% | $96,710 | +83% | None |
Compared with Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, median $52,800. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
92% skill match · $50,690 · −4% pay
Systems Evaluation · Systems Analysis · Operation and Control
89% skill match · $46,570 · −12% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Equipment Maintenance · Operation and Control
87% skill match · $43,380 · −18% pay
Equipment Selection · Equipment Maintenance · Repairing
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (92% skill match, median $50,690), Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (89% skill match, median $46,570) and Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (87% skill match, median $43,380), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+93%, $102,040), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+83%, $96,710) and Gas Plant Operators (+66%, $87,820).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.