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Boston Career Explorer

Production

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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

Also called: CNC Licensed Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Licensed Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Operator), CNC Mill Set Up Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Set Up Operator), Machine Operator, Machine Set Up Operator

Median pay in Greater Boston
$65,540
$31.51/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
Not published
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−11.3%
20 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$51,000$52,800$65,540$81,290$81,490

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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 controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
  • Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
  • Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
  • Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure20 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 21
  • Language-model AIOE 22
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 17

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has lower AI exposure, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools could help a little with reading specifications or logging results. Installing cutting tools, lining up workpieces, and checking finished parts by hand are not tasks AI tools do. The larger change is more CNC and automated machines, and Massachusetts is projected to need about 11.3% fewer of these workers by 2034.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing specifications and cutting settings
  • Recording inspection results

Still relies on people

  • Installing cutting tools and aligning workpieces
  • Watching the machine and adjusting as it runs

What federal projections say

“Productivity change, occupational substitution - share decreases as robotics, CNC operated machines, and other programmable/automated machines replace less advanced machines increasing efficiency.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Industrial Machinery Mechanics

    Your knowledge of how machines run and fail carries over. This job fixes the machines and has 17.1% projected growth in Massachusetts.

    Pay difference
    +$9,660 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +17.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

    Replacing worn parts and testing equipment to specifications builds on your tool and measuring skills. It pays more, with 4.9% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$11,230 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Using precision instruments and power tools carries over. This job pays more and has 5.1% projected growth, with long-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$10,230 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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