NUMERICAL CONTROL (NC) MACHINE-TOOL OPERATORS (SKILLED OCCUPATIONS IN ROBOTICS/AUTOMATED SYSTEMS) California Occupational Guide Number 2004-D (part) Interest Area: Emerging Occupations 1994
THE JOB 
Aircraft, industrial machinery, construction equipment, and other durable manufactured goods require precision-machined metal parts. Most of these parts are made with numerically controlled (NC) machine tools. NC machine operators tend these machines. Made up of electronic controllers and combinations of cutting and shaping tools, most NC machines today are computer numerically controlled (CNC), which means that the controllers are minicomputers. Machine-tool operators work from written instructions, load programs, position work pieces, attach the tools and check coolants and lubricants. Operators also monitor the equipment. Some CNC operators may also debug new programs. Operators may also be responsible for making sure finished parts meet specifications.
COMPENSATION
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reported the median wage of numerical-control machine-tool operators in California was $12.07 in 1997.
REQUIREMENTS
JOB RELATED SKILLS Knowledge of: -- Blueprints -- NC Programming EDUCATION AND TRAINING -- High school diploma; -- Shop, math, geometry, blueprint reading.
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162
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