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Drilling & Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic

Also called: Machine Operator, Drill Operator, Drill Setup Operator, Computer Numerical Control Set-Up Operator (CNC Set-Up Operator)

What they do:
Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
On the job, you would:
  • Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
  • Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
  • Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
  • design
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Business
  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • reading work related information
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands
Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • read and understand what is written
Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Self Control
  • Independence
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word
Inventory management software
  • Automated inventory software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
some college or
high school diploma
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$33,510
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

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See more details at O*NET OnLine about drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.