Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the U.S.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the U.S. earn a median of $49,030 a year ($23.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,720 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $51,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| 25th percentile | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| Median | $49,030 | $23.57 |
| 75th percentile | $60,130 | $28.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,720 | $33.04 |
| Average (mean) | $51,680 | $24.85 |
Half of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,085.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,042.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,885.77 |
| Weekly | $942.88 |
| Hourly | $23.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $69,210 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $61,720 | n/a |
| Michigan | $61,620 | 620 |
| Nebraska | $60,460 | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $60,310 | 80 |
| California | $59,250 | 750 |
| Colorado | $57,970 | 140 |
| Ohio | $56,870 | 500 |
| New York | $56,350 | 260 |
| Missouri | $55,210 | 60 |
| Virginia | $54,230 | 560 |
| Indiana | $53,550 | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $51,770 | 310 |
| Kansas | $51,120 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,280 | 550 |
| Maryland | $49,920 | 30 |
| Illinois | $49,750 | 230 |
| South Carolina | $49,610 | 80 |
| Arizona | $48,730 | 30 |
| Iowa | $47,010 | n/a |
| Alabama | $46,970 | 70 |
| Georgia | $46,490 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $45,120 | 110 |
| Nevada | $45,040 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $43,810 | 1,140 |
| Florida | $40,480 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $39,550 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $38,120 | 140 |
| Texas | $37,390 | 720 |
| West Virginia | $37,390 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $36,110 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $35,630 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $67,230 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,880 | 190 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $61,980 | 380 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,480 | n/a |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,500 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,090 | 90 |
| Cleveland, OH | $59,670 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,320 | 510 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58,980 | 80 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $57,740 | 120 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $55,430 | 40 |
| Erie, PA | $55,250 | 50 |
| Richmond, VA | $54,230 | 70 |
| Columbus, IN | $52,060 | 140 |
| Wichita, KS | $51,800 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 510 | $59,320 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 380 | $61,980 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 240 | $44,460 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 230 | $36,730 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 200 | $38,580 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 190 | $63,880 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 180 | $44,900 |
| Columbus, IN | 140 | $52,060 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 120 | $57,740 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 100 | $49,700 |
| Cleveland, OH | 100 | $59,670 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 90 | $45,710 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 90 | $60,090 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 90 | $49,180 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 80 | $58,980 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median salary for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $49,030 a year, or $23.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. earn at least $68,720 a year. The top 25% earn $60,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,800 a year, and a quarter of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $42,440 or less.
How many forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in the U.S.?
About 8,930 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.