Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
What it pays
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $23.57/hr — about $49,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $17.69/hr; the top 10% earn $33.04/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $23.57/hr — about $49,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $17.69/hr; the top 10% earn $33.04/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0% of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
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Quick questions
- How much does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
- The median pay is $23.57 per hour — roughly $49,000 a year, with the real range running from about $17.69/hr (10th percentile) to $33.04/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.