Occupation · SOC 51-4199
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other
All metal workers and plastic workers not listed separately.
Median wage
$42,750
$33,850–$62,800
Projected growth
-9.3%
Declining
Annual openings
-190
per year
Employed (US)
20,270
Job Zone —
Core skills
Operations MonitoringMonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisSpeakingReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingMechanicalEnglish LanguageMathematicsEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Internet browser softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareEnterprise application integration softwareTime accounting softwareData base user interface and query software
Representative tasks
Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Safety and sanitation regulations — identify and follow under direct supervisor guidance on a production shop floor.Attendance and hours records — record accurately using time accounting software with oversight from a lead worker.Metal and plastic materials — inspect for visible defects or damage following established checklists on an entry-level production line.Work orders and production schedules — read and interpret with supervisor assistance to determine assigned daily tasks.Hand tools and basic forming equipment — operate under close direction to complete standard metal or plastic fabrication tasks.Near-vision inspection tasks — perform to detect surface irregularities on finished parts at a supervised workstation.Production monitoring procedures — follow step-by-step protocols to observe machine performance and report anomalies to a lead.Arm-hand steadiness and manual dexterity — apply when handling raw stock and positioning components during guided fabrication tasks.Verbal instructions from supervisors — listen actively and confirm understanding before beginning assigned production operations.Basic quality control criteria — recognize pass/fail standards and flag non-conforming parts for review under direct supervision.
developing
Safety regulation compliance — enforce personal and crew adherence to OSHA and facility sanitation standards during routine shifts.Employee attendance logs — maintain and reconcile weekly records using time accounting software with minimal supervisor review.In-process parts and assemblies — inspect against dimensional and visual specifications, documenting findings in a production database.Production charts and work orders — analyze to sequence daily fabrication tasks and adjust workflow for minor schedule changes.Metal-forming or plastic-processing equipment — operate and control settings independently to meet standard output and quality targets.Machine performance metrics — monitor via control panels and software dashboards, identifying deviations before they cause defects.Spreadsheet software — use to track yield rates, material usage, and downtime data across routine production runs.Quality control analysis techniques — apply to identify recurring defect patterns and recommend corrective actions to supervisors.CAD drawings and engineering prints — read and interpret to verify component dimensions during mid-production inspections.Coworkers and internal customers — communicate clearly about production status, part quality, and schedule updates during shift handoffs.
proficient
Complex production schedules and multi-order work packages — read, analyze, and act on autonomously to optimize throughput across a full shift.Safety and sanitation program requirements — enforce consistently across a workgroup, resolving ambiguous situations using independent judgment.Non-routine defects and equipment malfunctions — diagnose using critical thinking and mechanical knowledge, implementing corrective measures without escalation.Advanced quality control analysis — conduct on finished metal and plastic products, applying statistical reasoning to distinguish process variation from systematic error.Enterprise application integration software — utilize to link production records, inventory data, and scheduling systems for accurate real-time reporting.CAD software — interpret and manipulate design files to verify manufacturability and communicate specification changes to engineering teams.Precision hand and powered tooling — apply with fine motor control to perform close-tolerance operations on specialty metal or plastic components.Attendance and workforce data — manage across multiple employees, generating accurate hours reports and identifying patterns affecting productivity.Technical information from manuals and reports — comprehend and apply independently to configure equipment and resolve process challenges.Production process improvements — identify through systematic monitoring and present findings and recommendations to operations management.
advanced
Facility-wide safety and sanitation standards — establish, revise, and enforce, driving a culture of compliance across all metal and plastics production areas.Competency development programs — design and deliver for emerging and developing workers, leveraging education and training knowledge to build shop-floor capability.Organizational production records and KPI systems — architect using database, spreadsheet, and enterprise integration tools to provide decision-quality data to leadership.Strategic production schedules and capacity plans — analyze and shape at a departmental level, aligning resources and priorities with business objectives.Cross-functional quality initiatives — lead, applying advanced quality control analysis to drive systemic defect reduction and customer satisfaction improvements.Capital equipment selection and process technology decisions — inform by synthesizing mechanical knowledge, operational data, and vendor assessments.Workforce attendance and performance metrics — oversee at team or department scale, using management principles to address absenteeism and productivity gaps.Safety, regulatory, and public security requirements — interpret and translate into operational policies, ensuring organizational compliance with industry and legal standards.Mentorship and technical coaching — provide to proficient and developing practitioners, modeling precision, integrity, and critical thinking in complex production situations.Stakeholder communication on production performance — lead, delivering clear, data-driven briefings to plant management, customers, and cross-departmental partners.
Also known as
280 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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