Career Paths From Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

1. Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move95.3% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 12% higher.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $52,800

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

2. Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move91.7% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $46,550

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

3. Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move91.5% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $46,570

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

4. Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.9% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $46,330

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

5. Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move92.3% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 6% higher.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $50,140

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

6. Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.2% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $47,720

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

7. Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.9% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $49,080

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

8. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move92.7% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 6% lower.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $44,350

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

9. Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move92% skill match

   Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.

   Current median salary

   $47,180

   Target median salary

   $49,030

   Current Job Zone

   2

   Target Job Zone

   2

10. Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move94.4% skill match

    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 18% lower.

    Current median salary

    $47,180

    Target median salary

    $38,760

    Current Job Zone

    2

    Target Job Zone

    2

11. Semiconductor Processing TechniciansLateral Move94.7% skill match

    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Semiconductor Processing Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Semiconductor Processing Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% higher.

    Current median salary

    $47,180

    Target median salary

    $51,430

    Current Job Zone

    2

    Target Job Zone

    2

12. Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsCareer Change91.6% skill match

    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 49% higher.

    Current median salary

    $47,180

    Target median salary

    $70,070

    Current Job Zone

    2

    Target Job Zone

    2

13. Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasCareer Change91.6% skill match

    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% higher.

    Current median salary

    $47,180

    Target median salary

    $60,190

    Current Job Zone

    2

    Target Job Zone

    2

14. Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move94.7% skill match

    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.

    Current median salary

    $47,180

    Target median salary

    $45,760

    Current Job Zone

    2

    Target Job Zone

    2

15. Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodLateral Move95.5% skill match

    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% lower.

    Current median salary

    $47,180

    Target median salary

    $42,770

    Current Job Zone

    2

    Target Job Zone

    2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.