SOC 51-4022 · Production Occupations

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic wages by metro

National median annual wage

$49,030

10th percentile
$36,800
25th percentile
$42,440
Median
$49,030
75th percentile
$60,130
90th percentile
$68,720
Mean
$51,680

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

National employment in May 2025: 8,930.

That median is 3.8% lower than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.

The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.

A public high school teacher standing in a classroom in the United States
A public high school classroom in the United States. Photograph by Harrison Keely. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Highest published medians

Metros with the highest published annual medians for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
OccupationEmployment10thMedian90th
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA40$60,280$67,230$85,360
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD190$46,730$63,880$73,880
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI380$42,330$61,980$64,200
Pittsburgh, PANot available$45,520$61,480$72,190
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI60$51,810$60,500$63,360
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO90$55,990$60,090$69,310
Cleveland, OH100$40,800$59,670$78,490
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA510$44,090$59,320$81,600
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH80$39,640$58,980$91,800
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN120$38,120$57,740$62,590
Canton-Massillon, OH40$48,690$55,430$68,730
Erie, PA50$45,470$55,250$63,050
Richmond, VA70$44,820$54,230$58,560
Columbus, IN140$39,410$52,060$59,900
Wichita, KSNot available$47,560$51,800$58,810
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL30$41,960$49,750$69,040
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN100$45,860$49,700$67,260
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA90$40,500$49,180$76,660
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ30$47,510$48,730$62,350
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NCNot available$35,650$48,320$78,170

Where employment is largest

Metros with the most Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs in the May 2025 tables.
OccupationEmployment10thMedian90th
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA510$44,090$59,320$81,600
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI380$42,330$61,980$64,200
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN240$37,140$44,460$49,410
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX230$24,440$36,730$61,220
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ200$34,940$38,580$65,770
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD190$46,730$63,880$73,880
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX180$37,380$44,900$65,280
Columbus, IN140$39,410$52,060$59,900
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN120$38,120$57,740$62,590
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN100$45,860$49,700$67,260
Cleveland, OH100$40,800$59,670$78,490
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA90$37,740$45,710$62,160
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO90$55,990$60,090$69,310
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA90$40,500$49,180$76,660
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH80$39,640$58,980$91,800
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA80$36,800$40,990$47,610
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA70$36,300$43,740$62,240
Richmond, VA70$44,820$54,230$58,560
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI60$51,810$60,500$63,360
Rochester, NY60$38,170$46,190$56,200

States and territories

State estimates for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, May 2025.
OccupationEmployment10thMedian90th
Oregon30$52,180$69,210$89,420
OklahomaNot available$45,170$61,720$62,170
Michigan620$41,820$61,620$69,100
Nebraska200$59,800$60,460$64,980
Wisconsin80$48,460$60,310$63,360
California750$43,390$59,250$81,730
Colorado140$39,900$57,970$67,310
Ohio500$40,800$56,870$68,730
New York260$38,620$56,350$71,320
Missouri60$35,070$55,210$66,160
Virginia560$47,740$54,230$59,930
Indiana450$39,330$53,550$60,910
Massachusetts310$39,180$51,770$89,400
Kansas130$43,590$51,120$58,810
Pennsylvania550$42,800$50,280$71,490
Maryland30$49,920$49,920$53,750
Illinois230$40,580$49,750$61,690
South Carolina80$46,420$49,610$63,770
Arizona30$47,510$48,730$62,350
IowaNot available$45,770$47,010$58,180
Alabama70$36,940$46,970$78,620
Georgia380$37,730$46,490$61,980
Connecticut110$38,210$45,120$54,090
Nevada40$37,980$45,040$61,240
Tennessee1,140$37,140$43,810$59,200
Florida80$27,040$40,480$92,490
Mississippi70$37,490$39,550$44,500
Arkansas140$35,060$38,120$54,800
Texas720$24,440$37,390$56,210
West VirginiaNot available$33,320$37,390$63,200
KentuckyNot available$32,460$36,110$59,590
New JerseyNot available$34,840$35,630$72,760

Other production occupations

Questions this page answers

What is the national median wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $49,030. Employment is 8,930.

How does Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay compare with all occupations?

The national median for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is 3.8% lower than the all-occupations median of $50,980.

Which metro has the highest published median for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is highest on this page's list at $67,230.