51 Series · SOC 51-4022
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $49,030
- Median / year
- $68,720
- Top 10% earn
- -18.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 8,930
- US workers
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $49,030 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $49,030, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,800 (10th percentile) to $68,720 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,930 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($69,210), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $49,030, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 31% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #40 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 18.9% by 2033.
- $49,030
- Median annual wage
- Top 69%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #40 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $69,210. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4022) pays a national median of $49,030 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,800 at the 10th percentile to $68,720 at the 90th, with a mean of $51,680 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,930 Americans work in this occupation across 32 reporting states and 35 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -18.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $69,210, which is +41% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $67,230 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$49,030
per year
Median Hourly
$23.57/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$51,680
average
Employment
8,930
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$49,030 Bottom 31% higher than 31% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits on the slower-growing side at -18.9% growth and $49,030 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-18.9%
Declining
Annual Openings
600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
- ▸ Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
- ▸ Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- ▸ Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
- ▸ Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,800
25th Percentile
$42,440
Median
$49,030
75th Percentile
$60,130
90th Percentile
$68,720
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 32 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $69,210 | +41% above national |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $61,720 | +26% above national |
| 3 | Michigan | $61,620 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Nebraska | $60,460 | +23% above national |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $60,310 | +23% above national |
| 6 | California | $59,250 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $57,970 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Ohio | $56,870 | +16% above national |
| 9 | New York | $56,350 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Missouri | $55,210 | +13% above national |
| 11 | Virginia | $54,230 | +11% above national |
| 12 | Indiana | $53,550 | +9% above national |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $51,770 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Kansas | $51,120 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $50,280 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Maryland | $49,920 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Illinois | $49,750 | +1% above national |
| 18 | South Carolina | $49,610 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Arizona | $48,730 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Iowa | $47,010 | 4% below national |
| 21 | Alabama | $46,970 | 4% below national |
| 22 | Georgia | $46,490 | 5% below national |
| 23 | Connecticut | $45,120 | 8% below national |
| 24 | Nevada | $45,040 | 8% below national |
| 25 | Tennessee | $43,810 | 11% below national |
| 26 | Florida | $40,480 | 17% below national |
| 27 | Mississippi | $39,550 | 19% below national |
| 28 | Arkansas | $38,120 | 22% below national |
| 29 | Texas | $37,390 | 24% below national |
| 30 | West Virginia | $37,390 | 24% below national |
| 31 | Kentucky | $36,110 | 26% below national |
| 32 | New Jersey | $35,630 | 27% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 35 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $67,230 | +37% above national |
| 2 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,880 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $61,980 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,480 | +25% above national |
| 5 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,500 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,090 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $59,670 | +22% above national |
| 8 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,320 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58,980 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $57,740 | +18% above national |
| 11 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $55,430 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Erie, PA | $55,250 | +13% above national |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $54,230 | +11% above national |
| 14 | Columbus, IN | $52,060 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Wichita, KS | $51,800 | +6% above national |
| 16 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $51,190 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $49,750 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,700 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,180 | same as national |
| 20 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $49,130 | same as national |
| 21 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,730 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,320 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Rochester, NY | $46,190 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $45,710 | 7% below national |
| 25 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $44,900 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,860 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $44,460 | 9% below national |
| 28 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $43,740 | 11% below national |
| 29 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $40,990 | 16% below national |
| 30 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $40,080 | 18% below national |
| 31 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $39,550 | 19% below national |
| 32 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $39,090 | 20% below national |
| 33 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $38,580 | 21% below national |
| 34 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $36,730 | 25% below national |
| 35 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $27,750 | 43% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make? ▼
What state pays Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
How dangerous is being a Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
Is Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a good career? ▼
How does Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $60,130/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $69,210/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.