Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operator

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Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operator

Perfect for those who love precision and working with their hands on intricate tasks.
Shape the future by crafting essential components for various industries.
Master the art of transforming raw materials into precise, functional pieces.

💰 Earn $44K-$69K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 -12.9% JOB GROWTH

Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operator

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What You’ll Do

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications.
Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Risky (Decreasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

1,200 Annually

Median Earnings

$51,290 in California

$47,200 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Speaking
Time Management

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Job security

Deep Dive

Metal & Plastic Milling Machine Operator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years