Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary: $60,656 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 8,760 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationally earn a mean of $60,656. Employment in the series shown rose about 37% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 9.2% annual decline.
Key Statistics
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: what the data shows
Common questions about forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 51-4022.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 8,760 workers.
What does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Controlling Machines and Processes, Getting Information, Handling and Moving Objects, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Performing General Physical Activities, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
BLS national median annual wage: $49,240 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $60,656 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,470 |
| 25th percentile | $49,534 |
| Median (50th) | $59,117 |
| 75th percentile | $69,222 |
| 90th percentile | $81,001 |
What education do you need?
For Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Time Management, and knowledge areas including Production and Processing, Mathematics, Education and Training, Mechanical. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 9.2% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -38.3%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -61.9%.
Current U.S. headcount: 8,760.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 8,760 | 20.0% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 8,420 | 19.2% |
| Manufacturing | 8,120 | 18.5% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 4,460 | 10.2% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3,130 | 7.2% |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 1,230 | 2.8% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workforce.
Employment Over Time
8,760 Workforce in 2023
The Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$60,656 Average Wage
In 2023, Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earned an average of $60,656.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Salary distribution for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Employment Growth Projections
-9.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
938 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -38.3%
579 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -61.9%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Wage Trends by Industry
0.9% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Total, All Industry: 5.0% growth (Current: $61,835)
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- KY: 860 employees, $59,600 avg wage
- MI: 780 employees, $52,300 avg wage
- OH: 680 employees, $53,020 avg wage
- TN: 660 employees, $39,970 avg wage
- TX: 610 employees, $39,890 avg wage
- PA: 530 employees, $52,990 avg wage
- CA: 480 employees, $59,120 avg wage
- IL: 320 employees, $48,540 avg wage
- VA: 310 employees, $51,730 avg wage
- IN: 280 employees, $48,000 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: 330 employees, $53,890 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 300 employees, $58,510 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 190 employees, $62,170 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 150 employees, $50,690 avg wage
- Cleveland, OH: 150 employees, $55,530 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 150 employees, $52,450 avg wage
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 130 employees, $53,230 avg wage
- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN: 110 employees, $43,850 avg wage
- Lansing-East Lansing, MI: 100 employees, $56,090 avg wage
- Wichita, KS: 90 employees, $51,840 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Diversity
Demographic information on Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2023 was 8,760 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2023 were Business Administration, Engineering, Business.
Common majors for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workers.
Education level distribution for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Skills
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic need many skills, but most especially Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening.
Required skills for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic include Production and Processing, Mathematics, Education and Training, Mechanical, Engineering and Technology.
Knowledge areas required for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic include Near Vision, Oral Comprehension, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Problem Sensitivity, Written Comprehension.
Required abilities for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Daily Activities
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic spend their time on activities such as Controlling Machines and Processes, Getting Information, Handling and Moving Objects, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
Most important work activities for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
About
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The average yearly wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $60,656 in 2023.
SOC Code
51-4022 - Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic reports an average salary of $60,656.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 8,760 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -9.2%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.