How much does a lathe operator make?
Answer: A typical lathe operator in the United States makes $50,620 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 17,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Lathe operator pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,670 | $50,620 | $69,700 | about 17,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $60,870 | about 690 |
| California | $60,180 | about 3,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,020 | about 580 |
| Illinois | $54,930 | about 1,000 |
| New York | $50,760 | about 530 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and useful skills—such as setting up or programming CNC lathes—can affect what a lathe operator earns. Pay also varies by employer, industry, and location; work hours and evening or weekend shifts can differ too.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a lathe operator do?
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
What's a typical day like?
They read a blueprint, secure a cutting tool, and set the lathe spinning to shape a metal or plastic piece. They check the part with gauges or micrometers, adjust the machine, and replace worn tools.
How to get this job
A common U.S. path is to finish high school or earn a GED, then learn in a shop; training can take days to a year. Registered apprenticeships include CNC turning and engine-lathe setup, while CNC programmers may need further schooling.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Wood lathes were already being used in France by 1569—centuries before modern CNC machines.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-4034.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514034.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm
- www.britannica.com/technology/lathe
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY