How much does a drilling and boring machine tool setter make?
The median drilling and boring machine tool setter in the United States earns $49,080 per year, about $23.60 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all drilling and boring machine tool setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-4032.
Drilling and boring machine tool setter salary range
Pay for drilling and boring machine tool setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,300 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $68,410. The average (mean) wage of $51,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $41,710 | $20.05 | |
| Median (50th) | $49,080 | $23.60 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $57,940 | $27.85 | |
| 90th percentile | $68,410 | $32.89 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Drilling and boring machine tool setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Drilling and boring machine tool setters earn the most in Virginia at $90,390 a year, and the least in Indiana at $39,110. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $90,390 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $77,780 | 60 |
| Idaho | $69,590 | 70 |
| Florida | $66,340 | 80 |
| Michigan | $60,410 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $59,800 | 40 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | 390 |
| New York | $55,310 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $55,230 | 250 |
| Alabama | $53,110 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $52,040 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $51,740 | N/A |
| Ohio | $51,670 | 200 |
| Colorado | $51,280 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $49,930 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $49,640 | 60 |
| California | $49,080 | 690 |
| Arizona | $48,140 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,870 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $47,010 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $46,970 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $46,730 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,370 | 180 |
| Georgia | $46,270 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $45,070 | 400 |
| West Virginia | $45,060 | N/A |
| Missouri | $44,990 | 80 |
| Texas | $44,350 | 220 |
| Iowa | $43,860 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $41,080 | 50 |
| Indiana | $39,110 | 300 |
State median wages for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for drilling and boring machine tool setters
The BLS projects employment of drilling and boring machine tool setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 9.5%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 4,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 4,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 400 openings a year for drilling and boring machine tool setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a drilling and boring machine tool setter
The typical entry-level education for drilling and boring machine tool setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a drilling and boring machine tool setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Virginia, $90,390) and the lowest (Indiana, $39,110) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 4,680 people work as drilling and boring machine tool setters in the United States. At $49,080 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Drilling and boring machine tool setter salary FAQ
How much does a drilling and boring machine tool setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a drilling and boring machine tool setter is $23.60. The middle half of drilling and boring machine tool setters earn between $20.05 and $27.85 per hour.
What is the highest drilling and boring machine tool setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of drilling and boring machine tool setters earn more than $68,410 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a drilling and boring machine tool setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a drilling and boring machine tool setter is $49,080. The average (mean) wage of $51,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a drilling and boring machine tool setter a well paid job?
At $49,080 a year, a drilling and boring machine tool setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 4,680 people work as drilling and boring machine tool setters in the United States.
Which state pays drilling and boring machine tool setters the most?
Virginia has the highest median salary for drilling and boring machine tool setters at $90,390 a year. Massachusetts ($77,780) and Idaho ($69,590) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a drilling and boring machine tool setter a good career?
Employment of drilling and boring machine tool setters is projected to shrink 9.5% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a drilling and boring machine tool setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for drilling and boring machine tool setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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