Average Salary for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4022 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $49,240 ($23.67/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $35,150 at the 10th percentile to $69,540 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 8,760 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 46.1% since 2014.
Median Annual
$49,240
Mean Annual
$50,900
10th Pct
$35,150
75th Pct
$59,270
Employment
8,760
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$41k
25th
$49k
Median
$59k
75th
$70k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $86,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $65,690 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $65,530 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $62,590 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $58,100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,150 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $56,690 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $53,680 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $53,350 |
| Columbus, OH | $53,230 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $52,370 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $51,770 |
| Wichita, KS | $50,900 |
| Cleveland, OH | $50,200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,560 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $63,630 |
| Massachusetts | $60,540 |
| Kentucky | $59,700 |
| Nebraska | $58,560 |
| California | $57,620 |
| Oklahoma | $56,030 |
| Colorado | $55,990 |
| New York | $53,140 |
| Virginia | $53,050 |
| Oregon | $52,040 |
| Wisconsin | $51,760 |
| Arkansas | $51,520 |
| Michigan | $50,950 |
| Kansas | $50,900 |
| Ohio | $50,200 |
| Nevada | $49,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,590 |
| South Carolina | $48,320 |
| Missouri | $48,010 |
| Illinois | $47,540 |
| Alabama | $46,640 |
| Indiana | $46,460 |
| South Dakota | $45,430 |
| Iowa | $45,420 |
| Connecticut | $44,000 |
| Georgia | $42,120 |
| Maine | $41,530 |
| Florida | $39,210 |
| Mississippi | $36,940 |
| Texas | $36,910 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $67,570 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $67,310 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $67,310 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $67,310 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $67,310 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $67,310 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $63,290 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $62,110 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $58,560 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $57,870 |
| Foundries | $57,450 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $55,850 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $55,580 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $51,610 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $51,290 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $50,270 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $49,850 |
| Manufacturing | $49,240 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $49,140 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $49,040 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $49,030 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $48,400 |
| Wholesale Trade | $48,400 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $48,400 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $48,090 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $47,460 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $47,460 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $45,870 |
| Machine Shops | $45,160 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $40,230 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $40,230 |
| Employment Services | $40,230 |
| Temporary Help Services | $40,230 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $39,810 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $36,970 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $36,970 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $35,620 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $35,610 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $26,860 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,240 |
| 2023 | $46,990 |
| 2022 | $46,540 |
| 2021 | $44,520 |
| 2020 | $41,430 |
| 2019 | $39,670 |
| 2018 | $38,900 |
| 2017 | $38,650 |
| 2016 | $36,930 |
| 2015 | $35,070 |
| 2014 | $33,710 |