Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4022BLS OEWS May 2025
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
National median · BLS
$49,030
▼ -0.43%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$51,680
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
8,930
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$36,800
25th
$42,440
Median (50th)
$49,030
75th
$60,130
90th — top pay
$68,720
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
BLS projects employment of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to decline 17.2% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
8,900 → 7,400
-1,500 jobs
Projected change
-17.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries by metro area
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Metro area
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.4
Operation and Control3.3
Monitoring3.1
Active Listening2.9
Critical Thinking2.9
Equipment Maintenance2.9
Quality Control Analysis2.9
Reading Comprehension2.9
Speaking2.9
Coordination2.8
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing4.0
Mechanical3.6
Mathematics2.6
English Language2.3
Education and Training2.2
Administration and Management2.1
Computers and Electronics2.1
Chemistry2.0
Software and technology used
Email softwareInventory tracking softwareMachine control software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
Automatic Forging Machine OperatorBoard Hammer OperatorBolt Machine OperatorDrop Forge OperatorDrop ForgerDrop Hammer Set Up OperatorDrophammer OperatorForge TenderForgesmithForging Die SetterForging Machine OperatorForging OperatorForging Press OperatorForging Roll OperatorHeader Machine OperatorHeader Setup OperatorHeat Set OperatorHeavy ForgerHeavy Forging Machine OperatorManufacturing OperatorMulti Operation Machine OperatorPlastic Molding OperatorPlastic Process Technician (Plastic Process Tech)Power Hammer OperatorRestrike Hammer OperatorRoller Machine OperatorSpring ForgerSteam Hammer OperatorSteel Shot Header Operator
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $49,030.
