The median annual wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California is $47,660 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $51,980.
Pay spans roughly $38,350 at the 10th percentile to $72,680 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $22.91 per hour. An estimated 2,330 people work as lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California.
| Median (annual) | $47,660 |
| Mean (annual) | $51,980 |
| Median (hourly) | $22.91 |
| 10th percentile | $38,350 |
| 90th percentile | $72,680 |
| Employment | 2,330 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.