Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Salary, Job Outlook & Education | Career Matchup
Career Matchup
CompareFind careersExploreGuideBrowseMethodology

Career comparison

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Compare the evidence side by side. Career Matchup shows the source data without declaring an overall winner.

vs

This comparison has a permanent, readable URL. Change either career above to update it.

01 · Compensation

Pay and employment

Median annual wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,720
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

Mean annual wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,490
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,480
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

Hourly median wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$24.34
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$22.94
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

Hourly mean wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$25.24
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$23.79
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

10th percentile annual wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$36,670
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$36,700
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

25th percentile annual wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,250
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$40,450
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

75th percentile annual wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$60,700
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$56,840
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

90th percentile annual wage

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$69,700
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$63,710
91% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

National employment

2025

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic16,710
27% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic60,840
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4021

02 · Outlook

Employment outlook

Bars compare the same metric across the two careers. They are not an overall score.

Projected employment change

2025-2035

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic-11.3%
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.7%
6% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4021

Average annual openings

2025-2035

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1.4k
26% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic5.4k
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4021

03 · Preparation

Education and training

Typical entry-level education

2025-2035

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4021

Related work experience

2025-2035

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4021

On-the-job training

2025-2035

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4034

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4021

04 · Context and fit

Work context

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Contact with others

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.4 raw · CX scale
60% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.1 raw · CX scale
76% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Time pressure

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.3 raw · CX scale
56% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.9 raw · CX scale
98% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Spend time standing

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.1 raw · CX scale
77% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic5 raw · CX scale
100% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Exposed to contaminants

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.6 raw · CX scale
40% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3 raw · CX scale
50% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Exposed to disease or infections

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1 raw · CX scale
0% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1.1 raw · CX scale
3% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Exposed to hazardous equipment

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1.5 raw · CX scale
13% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4 raw · CX scale
74% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

04 · Context and fit

Skills

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Monitoring

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Active listening

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Reading comprehension

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Critical thinking

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Speaking

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.6 raw · LV scale
37% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.6 raw · LV scale
37% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Mathematics

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.1 raw · LV scale
30% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Active learning

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2 raw · LV scale
29% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Writing

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2 raw · LV scale
29% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Source metadata unavailable

Learning strategies

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Source metadata unavailable

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2 raw · LV scale
29% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

04 · Context and fit

Work styles

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Dependability

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.3 raw · WI scale
89% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.1 raw · WI scale
84% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Attention to detail

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.5 raw · WI scale
92% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.4 raw · WI scale
90% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Stress tolerance

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.9 raw · WI scale
64% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.9 raw · WI scale
66% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Cooperation

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.3 raw · WI scale
55% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4034.00

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.3 raw · WI scale
55% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4021.00

Explore your next step

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

  • Use the career comparison checklist

Sources

Each side retains the source release, reference period, occupation code, and file hash used for the comparison.

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-4034 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-4034 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-4034.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-4021 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-4021 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-4021.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Read the data in context

Career Matchup does not declare an overall winner. National estimates can hide local variation, and O*NET relative values describe the named construct rather than whether a career is better.

Career Matchup is an independent comparison tool.

Data sourcesData availabilityAboutFree guideContactPrivacyTermsData: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET® Database.