Production
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.
Median pay
$49,030
Growth to 2035
−17%
declining
Openings a year
600
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: 54% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
- Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
- Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
- Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
- 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.
- Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
Also called: Blacksmith · Forge Operator · Forge Press Operator · Forger · Hammer Operator · Header Operator · Hot Press Forger · Machine Operator
Outlook and AI
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic held 8,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 7,400 by 2035 (−17%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change, occupational substitution - share decreases as manufacturers continue to use and integrate automated, CNC, and programmable machines to complete tasks previously done by these workers.
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