Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $49,030 per year ($23.57/hour). Salaries range from $36,800 at the entry level to $68,720+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 8,930 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 18.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$49,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.57
per hour
Employment
8,930
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$36,800
25th percentile
$42,440
Median
$49,030
75th percentile
$60,130
90th percentile
$68,720
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-18.9%
Decline
Annual Openings
600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$36K$69K■ No data
Top Paying States
Oregon
$69K
+41%
Oklahoma
$62K
+26%
Michigan
$62K
+26%
Nebraska
$60K
+23%
Wisconsin
$60K
+23%
California
$59K
+21%
Colorado
$58K
+18%
Ohio
$57K
+16%
New York
$56K
+15%
Missouri
$55K
+13%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $67,230 | +37.1% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,880 | +30.3% |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $61,980 | +26.4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,480 | +25.4% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,500 | +23.4% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,090 | +22.6% |
| Cleveland, OH | $59,670 | +21.7% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,320 | +21.0% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58,980 | +20.3% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $57,740 | +17.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 31
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earning $49,030/year would need 1216 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1305 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary trend (2011–2024) →