Shigoto Zukan
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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic job outlookprojected pay in 10 years $63,200 · outlook score 34/100 · BLS employment projections

United States Manufacturing & Repair Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay
$50,620
25th–75th pct. $43,250–$60,700
Top pay (est.)
$90,600
Top 10% $69,700
Pay in 5 years
$56,600est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$63,200est.
$54,300–$73,400
Outlook score
34/100
★★☆☆☆ Below average
AI replacement risk
49%
Moderate
Job growth (10 yr)
−11.3%
1,400 openings / yr

Projected pay for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $50,620 → in 3 years $54,100 → in 5 years $56,600 → in 10 years $63,200 (10-year range $54,300–$73,400). The model assumes pay growth of +2.2% per year.

$50,620
Now
2026
$54,100
In 3 yrs
2029
$50,000–$58,900
$56,600
In 5 yrs
2031
$51,000–$63,000
$63,200
In 10 yrs
2036
$54,300–$73,400

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.77%AI impact +0.01%Total +2.2% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

34/100
★★☆☆☆
Below average · ranked #755 of all U.S. occupations
Pay level
35 pts
AI resistance
51 pts
Entry barrier
51 pts
Annual openings
40 pts
Projected growth
5 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Labor demand for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Employment
17K
BLS OEWS
Projected employment
15K
2025–35
Projected change
−11.3%
ranked #779 for growth
Annual openings
1,400
growth + replacement needs
Demand score
Low
20/100
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
in a related occupation
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.