Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: CNC Licensed Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Licensed Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Operator), Machine Operator, Mill OperatorSet up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 2 of its 15 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 13.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 83% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,760 | $34,750 to $42,550 | 210 |
| Arizona | $48,760 | $47,840 to $59,200 | 100 |
| Arkansas | $44,440 | $36,690 to $55,210 | 160 |
| California | $59,050 | $47,600 to $75,630 | 1,960 |
| Colorado | $53,780 | $47,360 to $58,620 | not published |
| Connecticut | $79,300 | $47,700 to $81,600 | 150 |
| Florida | $47,220 | $38,030 to $48,700 | 140 |
| Georgia | $38,340 | $33,830 to $49,610 | 120 |
| Illinois | $63,360 | $48,920 to $64,700 | 570 |
| Indiana | $57,720 | $49,140 to $59,520 | 590 |
| Iowa | $51,600 | $48,580 to $58,490 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $66,440 | $55,880 to $68,670 | 540 |
| Maine | $45,210 | $45,210 to $59,140 | 120 |
| Maryland | $56,080 | $47,580 to $63,290 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $62,380 | $52,240 to $81,290 | not published |
| Michigan | $48,400 | $43,510 to $57,530 | 670 |
| Minnesota | $55,210 | $44,160 to $70,670 | 220 |
| Mississippi | $39,100 | $39,090 to $51,540 | 100 |
| Missouri | $47,680 | $36,150 to $57,280 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $59,630 | $48,060 to $63,730 | 70 |
| Nevada | $52,800 | $47,500 to $55,160 | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $49,230 | $48,530 to $56,030 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $50,530 | $46,510 to $57,460 | 190 |
| New York | $56,560 | $47,110 to $81,030 | 550 |
| North Carolina | $49,210 | $39,220 to $61,320 | 280 |
| Ohio | $51,310 | $47,880 to $62,500 | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $40,250 | $35,060 to $48,090 | 160 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,690 | $45,860 to $58,460 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $48,340 | $39,170 to $59,110 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $43,710 | $33,650 to $46,610 | 1,170 |
| Texas | $53,840 | $43,820 to $62,890 | 510 |
| Utah | $46,580 | $36,840 to $46,600 | 100 |
| Virginia | $56,410 | $46,410 to $64,490 | 90 |
| Washington | $86,460 | $78,200 to $105,430 | 240 |
| West Virginia | $45,440 | $41,120 to $56,510 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $58,770 | $48,170 to $62,520 | 280 |
Nationally: $52,800. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 2 of its 15 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers. | Not published |
| Not much | Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers. | Not published |
| Not much | Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists. | Not published |
| Not much | Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record production output. | Not published |
| Not much | Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations. | Not published |
See all 15 tasks
| Not much | Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders. | Not published |
| Not much | Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics. | Not published |
| Not much | Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics. | Not published |
| Not much | Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers, to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring. | Not published |
| Not much | Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas. | Not published |
| Not much | Make templates or cutting tools. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 15 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 15 tasks fall under 14 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #37 Determine operational methods or procedures
- #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position workpieces or materials on equipment | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Maintain operational records |
Show all 14 activities
| Assemble products or work aids | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment | |||
| Remove workpieces from production equipment |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,926 moves out
- 1 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 8%
- 2 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 4%
- 4 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Low +2.4% 4%
- 5 Machinists Moderate +1.0% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 1,984 moves in
- 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 18%
- 2 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 6%
- 3 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Low +2.4% 5%
- 4 Machinists Moderate +1.0% 4%
- 5 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 10% less than high school
- 47% high school
- 15% postsecondary certificate
- 9% some college
- 19% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 14% less than high school
- 52% high school
- 21% some college
- 8% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers” · 3,391 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
1 program: Machine Tool Technology/Machinist.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
8.5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
| a certification | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 3 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (CNC OPERATOR - MILLING; MILLING MACHINE SET-UP OPERATOR; PANTOGRAPH-MACHINE SET-UP OPER). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/51-4035.00