Jobs Similar to Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Lathe and Turning Machine Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $50,620 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
83% similar · $52,800 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 2Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
82% similar · $46,570 (−8%) · High school
- 3Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
81% similar · $38,180 (−25%) · High school
- 4Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $49,080 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 5Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $46,550 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 6Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $38,760 (−23%) · High school
- 7Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
80% similar · $50,690 (0%) · High school
- 8Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
79% similar · $46,350 (−8%) · High school
- 9Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
79% similar · $53,710 (+6%) · High school
- 10Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $47,180 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 11Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $50,140 (−1%) · High school · Same group
- 12Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $47,920 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 13Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
77% similar · $77,320 (+53%) · High school
- 14Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
77% similar · $43,380 (−14%) · High school
- 15Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $49,030 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 16Machinists
77% similar · $58,750 (+16%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $44,350 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 18Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $46,330 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 19Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $63,340 (+25%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 20Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $45,760 (−10%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (90)
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (87)
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (86)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (86)
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (84)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (83)
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (83)
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (81)
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (81)
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (80)
Questions about jobs like lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
What jobs are most similar to lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (83% similar), Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (82% similar), Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (81% similar), Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (80% similar) and Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (80% similar).
Which jobs like lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators ($77,320, +53%; usually a high school diploma), Model Makers (Metal and Plastic) ($63,340, +25%; usually training or an associate degree) and Machinists ($58,750, +16%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic ($50,620). Without more preparation than lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic usually need: Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators, Engine and Other Machine Assemblers and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.