Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC code 51-4022 · O*NET-SOC 51-4022.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$49,030
a year
Hourly
$23.57
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$51,680
$24.85 per hour
Middle 50%
$42,440 – $60,130
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,800 – $68,720
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
8,930
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,800
- $17.69/hr
- 25th percentile
- $42,440
- $20.40/hr
- Median percentile
- $49,030
- $23.57/hr
- 75th percentile
- $60,130
- $28.91/hr
- 90th percentile
- $68,720
- $33.04/hr
What do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
- Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
- Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
- Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.
- Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
- Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
- Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?
The national median is $49,030 a year. The full range runs from $36,800 at the 10th percentile to $68,720 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Active Listening2.9/5
- Speaking2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Mechanical3.6/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination.