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Overview
Metal planer operators set up and run planing machines that remove excess material from metal workpieces with a straight cutting motion between tool and workpiece.
In job descriptions, look for planer setup, cutting tools, surface flatness, test runs, moving workpieces, machine monitoring, technical drawings, lifting equipment and handling of metal scrap.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Metal planer operators work with a machine tool, a cutting head and a secured metal workpiece. The focus is a straight, controlled cut that removes excess material and leaves the required flat surface.
Skills and specializations
Useful skills include setting up the planer, choosing cutters, reading technical resources, measuring flatness, monitoring moving workpieces and running tests before production. Some jobs include manual planers, lifting equipment or scrap feeders.
Salary context
Pay is shaped by part size, tolerance demands, machine autonomy, setup responsibility, shift rhythm and whether the operator also advises on malfunctions or inspects finished surfaces.
Career paths
A planner can grow toward broader machine-tool setting, CNC or NC operation, quality inspection, tooling preparation, maintenance support or supervision of a small metalworking cell.
Good to know
Check whether the advert names planer type, metals, tolerances, drawings, lifting needs and scrap handling. That detail helps separate precision machining from basic machine feeding.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial career context, not official labour-market statistics or role-specific pay data.
Map overview
Click the map to search for metal planer operator jobs.
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O*NET relationships
See occupations connected to this ESCO occupation in the official O*NET–ESCO mapping. The relationship type comes from the source and is not a ranking or recommendation.
O*NET relationships: 5
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers
51-9162.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETMachinists
51-4041.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
51-9161.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETMilling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4035.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETLathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4034.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETSource and method
These relationships come from the official European Commission O*NET–ESCO crosswalk.
Relationship direction: O*NET occupation to ESCO occupation.
Several O*NET occupations can point to the same ESCO occupation, and one O*NET occupation can point to several ESCO occupations.
AltoTrail preserves the source relationship type. The order is technical and does not show which occupation is best, most relevant or recommended.
AltoTrail validates and presents the source relationships without adding ranking or recommendation semantics.
Alternative labels
Occupation group
Metal working machine tool setters and operators (7223)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/a5245c01-4ca8-406e-a152-620c28530ea8 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 7223.12 |
| ISCO group | 7223 |
| Concept type | Occupation |