The tabulation above show the average weekly wages for production workers in manufacturing industries where employment of metalworking and plastics-working machine operators is concentrated. Because many metalworking and plastics-working shops operate more than one shift daily, some operators work nights and weekends.
Most employers offer medical and dental insurance and vacation.
Many also offer vision, life and sick leave benefits. Employment of most manual cutting and forming machine tool operators, and sheet metal workers, is expected to decline. Operators of automated machines will grow. One of the most important factors influencing employment change in this occupation is the implementation of labor-saving machinery. In order to remain competitive, many firms are adopting new technologies, such as computer-controlled machine tools, to improve quality and lower production costs.