Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-4081 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2026

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Southeast Minnesota	180	32	$25.36/hr	$20.79/hr	$23.38/hr	$25.27/hr	$27.87/hr	$28.81/hr

Leading Industries for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Manufacturing	2,030	$24.46/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	N/A	N/A
Professional and Business Services	500	$19.73/hr

Other Regional Data for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Southwest Minnesota	N/A	N/A	4.5%
Duluth MN-WI MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	N/A	N/A	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	N/A	N/A	0.0%
St Cloud MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	30	$22.84/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	80	$22.10/hr	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	80	$23.48/hr	N/A
Northwest Balance of State	80	$22.10/hr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	140	$25.27/hr	N/A
Southeast Minnesota	180	$25.27/hr	9.9%
Southwest Balance of State	190	$22.71/hr	N/A
Central Minnesota	290	$22.71/hr	7.4%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	1,910	$24.22/hr	4.0%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	2,080	$24.22/hr	N/A
Minnesota	2,540	$24.09/hr	5.3%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	110	$23.12/hr	-11.1%
Machinists	12,500	$30.06/hr	7.6%
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	220	$27.15/hr	N/A
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	6,130	$24.48/hr	-3.5%
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers	410	$25.87/hr	N/A
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	150	$30.00/hr	-6.0%
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	560	$25.60/hr	5.5%
Maintenance Workers, Machinery	730	$31.16/hr	12.7%
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	9,270	$29.64/hr	6.1%
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators	1,440	$37.30/hr	3.3%

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

Select the proper coolants and lubricants and start their flow.
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.
Perform minor machine maintenance, such as oiling or cleaning machines, dies, or workpieces, or adding coolant to machine reservoirs.
Record operational data, such as pressure readings, lengths of strokes, feed rates, or speeds.
Compute data, such as gear dimensions or machine settings, applying knowledge of shop mathematics.
Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.
Measure and mark reference points and cutting lines on workpieces, using traced templates, compasses, and rules.
Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.