Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

How to become a Forging Machine Setter, Operator or Tender, Metal and Plastic

Official title: Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Also called: Blacksmith, Forge Operator, Forge Press Operator, Forger, Hammer Operator, Header Operator, Hot Press Forger, Machine Operator, Process Technician (Process Tech), Set Up Operator

Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

Main 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.

How to become one

Metal and plastic workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive 1 year of on-the-job training. Computer numerically controlled (CNC) tool programmers typically need postsecondary training.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Die Setter (Forging).
Apprenticeship: Forging-Press Operator I.
Apprenticeship: Multi-Operation-Machine Operator.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $49,030 a year The middle half earn $42,440 to $60,130.
About 8,900 people work in this job now, and about 7,400 are projected by 2035. (-17.2%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Forging Machine Setter, Operator or Tender, Metal and Plastic?

How much does a Forging Machine Setter, Operator or Tender, Metal and Plastic earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $49,030 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $42,440 to $60,130.

Is a Forging Machine Setter, Operator or Tender, Metal and Plastic a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 17% by 2035, from about 8,900 to about 7,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Forging Machine Setter, Operator or Tender, Metal and Plastic?

Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Die Setter (Forging).

Will AI change the work of a Forging Machine Setter, Operator or Tender, Metal and Plastic?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.