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Overview
Metalworking lathe operator work is about setting up and tending manual lathes so metal workpieces are turned, cut and checked against the required size and shape.
In job descriptions, look for lathe setup, cutting tools, cross slide positioning, gauges, precision measurement, test runs, worn equipment checks, waste removal and production records.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Metalworking lathe operators work close to manual turning machines, metal bars or castings, cutting tools and measuring equipment. The job centers on setting the lathe, watching the rotating workpiece, removing finished parts and spotting wear before it affects the cut.
Skills and specializations
Useful strengths include lathe machine parts, types of lathe tools, metal types, cross slide positioning, test runs, precision measuring equipment, gauge monitoring and marking processed workpieces.
Salary context
Salary context is shaped by material difficulty, tolerance demands, independent setup work, production pace, maintenance duties, lifting equipment use and whether the role includes quality-control records.
Career paths
Paths can move from routine turning into precision metalworking, machine maintenance, CNC-related setup, quality inspection, production coordination or advising colleagues on machine faults.
Good to know
Check adverts for manual or automated lathe work, metals handled, drawing-reading expectations, measuring tools, test-run duties, waste handling, shift patterns and how rejected workpieces are managed.
Editorial note
This guide gives editorial career context for metalworking lathe operator work. It is not official labour-market statistics or salary data.
Map overview
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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: 1
Lathe 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
lathe and turning machine operator (7223.4.4)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/7d9242d3-2a55-45e3-9d67-be76f879de0b |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 7223.4.4.1 |
| ISCO group | 7223 |
| Concept type | Occupation |