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Job outlook for lathe operators in the United States
Lathe operator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected lathe operator job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -45,900 new jobs for lathe operators are projected over the next decade.
Lathe operator salaries have increased 8% for lathe operators in the last 5 years.
There are over 22,005 lathe operators currently employed in the United States.
There are 45,596 active lathe operator job openings in the US.
The average lathe operator salary is $36,280.
Are lathe operator jobs in demand?
Lathe operator job and salary trends over time
Lathe operator jobs over time
Lathe operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,005 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 25,613 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 29,390 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 26,829 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 26,734 | 0.01% |
Average lathe operator salary over time
Lathe operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,280 | $17.44 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $35,158 | $16.90 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $34,351 | $16.51 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $33,825 | $16.26 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | $33,737 | $16.22 | +4.5% |
Lathe operator jobs by state
Most common states for lathe operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,128 | 16% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 109 | 16% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 847 | 14% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 139 | 13% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 95 | 13% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 131 | 10% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 762 | 8% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 404 | 7% |
| 9 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 91 | 6% |
| 10 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 317 | 5% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 294 | 5% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 412 | 4% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 366 | 4% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 124 | 4% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 384 | 3% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 336 | 3% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 100 | 3% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 59 | 3% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 29 | 3% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 17 | 3% |
Most common cities for lathe operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monroe | 1 | 3% | $34,321 |
| 2 | Burbank | 1 | 1% | $39,643 |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $38,182 |
| 4 | Rancho Cucamonga | 1 | 1% | $39,464 |
| 5 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $33,830 |
Lathe Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of lathe operator experts
Precision Machined Products Association
What type of skills will young Lathe Operators need?
Miles Free: Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.
Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.