How much does a milling and planing machine setter make?
The median milling and planing machine setter in the United States earns $52,800 per year, about $25.39 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all milling and planing machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-4035.
Milling and planing machine setter salary range
Pay for milling and planing machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,840 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $81,030. The average (mean) wage of $56,740 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 | $37,840 | $18.19 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $45,210 | $21.74 | |
| Median (50th) | $52,800 | $25.39 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $64,900 | $31.20 | |
| 90th percentile | $81,030 | $38.96 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4035), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Milling and planing machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Milling and planing machine setters earn the most in Washington at $86,460 a year, and the least in Alabama at $35,760. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $86,460 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $79,300 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $66,440 | 540 |
| Illinois | $63,360 | 570 |
| Massachusetts | $62,380 | N/A |
| Nebraska | $59,630 | 70 |
| California | $59,050 | 1,960 |
| Wisconsin | $58,770 | 280 |
| Indiana | $57,720 | 590 |
| New York | $56,560 | 550 |
| Virginia | $56,410 | 90 |
| Maryland | $56,080 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $55,210 | 220 |
| Texas | $53,840 | 510 |
| Colorado | $53,780 | N/A |
| Nevada | $52,800 | 120 |
| Iowa | $51,600 | 140 |
| Ohio | $51,310 | 610 |
| New Jersey | $50,530 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $49,230 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $49,210 | 280 |
| Arizona | $48,760 | 100 |
| Michigan | $48,400 | 670 |
| South Carolina | $48,340 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,690 | 410 |
| Missouri | $47,680 | 350 |
| Florida | $47,220 | 140 |
| Utah | $46,580 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $45,440 | 120 |
| Maine | $45,210 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $44,440 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $43,710 | 1,170 |
| Oklahoma | $40,250 | 160 |
| Mississippi | $39,100 | 100 |
| Georgia | $38,340 | 120 |
| Alabama | $35,760 | 210 |
State median wages for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4035), 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 milling and planing machine setters
The BLS projects employment of milling and planing machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 13.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 12,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 10,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,000 openings a year for milling and planing machine 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 milling and planing machine setter
The typical entry-level education for milling and planing machine 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 milling and planing machine 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 (Washington, $86,460) and the lowest (Alabama, $35,760) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 12,460 people work as milling and planing machine setters in the United States. At $52,800 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Milling and planing machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a milling and planing machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a milling and planing machine setter is $25.39. The middle half of milling and planing machine setters earn between $21.74 and $31.20 per hour.
What is the highest milling and planing machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of milling and planing machine setters earn more than $81,030 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a milling and planing machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a milling and planing machine setter is $52,800. The average (mean) wage of $56,740 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 milling and planing machine setter a well paid job?
At $52,800 a year, a milling and planing machine setter earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 12,460 people work as milling and planing machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays milling and planing machine setters the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for milling and planing machine setters at $86,460 a year. Connecticut ($79,300) and Kentucky ($66,440) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a milling and planing machine setter a good career?
Employment of milling and planing machine setters is projected to shrink 13.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a milling and planing machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for milling and planing machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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