How to hire drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
$23.60U.S. median hourly pay
$41,710–$57,940Middle half, yearly
4,680People in this job in the U.S.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches. • Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations. • Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds. • Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices. • Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties. • Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements. • Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges. • Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong monitoring, reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking and speaking skills • Working knowledge of mathematics, production and processing, mechanical and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $23.60 an hour ($49,080 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to change worn cutting tools, using wrenches. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
- Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
- Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
- Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
- Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
- Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
- Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
- Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
- Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -9.5% over ten years, declining · about 400 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $49,080 |
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.