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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

ManufacturingO*NET 51-4022.00United States

Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$49,026

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−11.2%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

100% of the workforce

Employment
10.04K jobs

Growing to 8.92K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
  • Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
  • Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
  • 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.
  • Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$36,795
25th percentile
$42,432
50th percentile
$49,026
75th percentile
$60,133
90th percentile
$68,723

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $49,026 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−11.2%projected to decline
202510,040 jobs
2035 projected8,919 jobs

1,121 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
100%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Fabrication
  • Painting
  • Hand Tools
  • Welding
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Machinery
  • Lifting Ability
  • Textiles
  • General Mathematics
  • Forklift Truck
  • Sawing
  • Abrasive Blasting
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding
  • Blueprinting
  • Grinding Machine
  • Forging
  • Working at Heights
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
  • Metal Fabrication
  • Pressure Washer

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Blacksmiths92 postings
  2. 02Painters37 postings
  3. 03Forge Operators16 postings
  4. 04Adjunct Welding Instructors12 postings
  5. 05Fitters/Welders12 postings
  6. 06Welding Instructors12 postings
  7. 07Machine Operators10 postings
  8. 08Aluminum Welders8 postings
  9. 09Jewelry Instructors7 postings
  10. 10Apprentices6 postings
  11. 11Cutters6 postings
  12. 12Shop Helpers6 postings
  13. 13Adjunct Instructors5 postings
  14. 14General Laborers5 postings
  15. 15Painters Apprentice5 postings
  16. 16Shop Technicians5 postings
  17. 17Studio Art Teachers5 postings
  18. 18Costume Technicians4 postings
  19. 19Sculptors4 postings
  20. 20Shop Assistants4 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Carowinds27 postings
  2. 02Aluminum Precision Products12 postings
  3. 03Vigor Industrial10 postings
  4. 04Aerotek9 postings
  5. 05Colonial Williamsburg Foundation7 postings
  6. 06Hendrickson5 postings
  7. 07Kalahari Resorts5 postings
  8. 08Western Nevada College5 postings
  9. 09Education Affiliates4 postings
  10. 10J F Ahern Company4 postings
  11. 11Vigor Marine4 postings
  12. 12Antelope Valley College3 postings
  13. 13Celebrity Cruises3 postings
  14. 14Churchill Downs3 postings
  15. 15Gold Rh Sas3 postings
  16. 16Herc3 postings
  17. 17Hm Dunn Aerosystems3 postings
  18. 18Job Talent3 postings
  19. 19Kern Community College District3 postings
  20. 20Lincoln Land Community College3 postings

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