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Automotive manufacturing
Ford, General Motors, Stellantis
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
These workers set up and run forging presses that shape metal by flattening, bending, cutting, or piercing it into the right form. A big part of the job is getting the machine ready: changing heavy dies, dialing in pressure and stroke depth, and running test pieces to prove the setup is correct. The tradeoff is straightforward: the entry path is accessible and hands-on, but the work is physical, tightly controlled, and tied to a shrinking slice of manufacturing.
Also known as Forging Machine OperatorForge Press OperatorForging Press SetterForging Press Set-Up OperatorForge Line Operator
Median Salary
$49,240
Mean $50,900
U.S. Workforce
~9K
0.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-18.9%
8.8K to 7.2K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~9K workers, with a median annual pay of $49,240 and roughly 0.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 8.8 K in 2024 to 7.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Production Helper and can progress toward Production Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Forging Press Setup, Die Changes & Ram Adjustment, and Machine Control Panels, Pressure & Stroke Settings, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Attention to detail, and Teamwork.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk with coworkers or a supervisor to confirm how the machine should be set up for the next run.
- Load, swap out, and remove dies and other tooling using hoists, cranes, and hand tools.
- Adjust the press settings so the pressure, stroke depth, and timing match the part being made.
- Start a test piece, watch the machine closely, and catch problems like jams or bad alignment early.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk with coworkers or a supervisor to confirm how the machine should be set up for the next run.
02 Load, swap out, and remove dies and other tooling using hoists, cranes, and hand tools.
03 Adjust the press settings so the pressure, stroke depth, and timing match the part being made.
04 Start a test piece, watch the machine closely, and catch problems like jams or bad alignment early.
05 Measure finished parts with gauges and other tools to make sure they match the required dimensions.
06 Feed metal stock through the press or move it from one shaping step to the next as the part is formed.
Industries That Hire
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Aerospace and defense
Boeing, GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin
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Heavy equipment and industrial machinery
Caterpillar, John Deere, Cummins
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Metal products and primary metals
Nucor, Steel Dynamics, Arconic
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Rail and transportation equipment
Wabtec, Siemens Mobility, Alstom
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma or even less, and BLS says no prior work experience is required.
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The pay is solid for a no-degree trade, with median annual wages of $49,240 and mean pay of $50,900.
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Moderate-term on-the-job training lets you learn while earning instead of paying for years of school.
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The work is concrete and visible: you set up real machines, make sample parts, and immediately see whether the setup worked.
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Workers who learn die changes, machine adjustments, and inspection routines can become especially useful on specialized production lines.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to fall 18.9% from 8.8 thousand to 7.2 thousand by 2034, so this is not a growth-heavy occupation.
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There are only about 0.6 thousand annual openings, which means many jobs come from turnover and retirements rather than expansion.
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The job is physically demanding because you handle heavy dies and metal stock and spend long periods on your feet around press equipment.
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The work environment can be noisy, hot, and repetitive, especially during long production runs.
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This role has a real structural ceiling: automation, plant consolidation, and shifting manufacturing demand can reduce the number of setter/operator jobs over time.
Career Progression
Production Helper
0-1 years
$33K-$39K
Learns plant routines, moves materials, and helps experienced operators with basic setup and cleanup tasks.
Forging Machine Setter/Operator
1-4 years
$43K-$55K
Runs presses, makes routine adjustments, and checks parts against specifications; this band includes the target role and fits the $49,240 median pay.
Senior Forging Machine Operator THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$56K-$68K
Handles tougher changeovers, spots defects faster, and keeps production moving with less direct supervision.
Lead Setup Specialist
8-12 years
$69K-$80K
Takes on complex die changes, trains newer workers, and troubleshoots recurring press and quality issues.
Production Supervisor
12+ years
$81K-$95K
Oversees output, staffing, safety, and scheduling across a forging line or shop floor.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
This is the standard entry point, and 82.3% of workers in the field have this level of education.
Less than high school diploma
A smaller share, 17.7%, entered without finishing high school and learned the job through hands-on experience.
Moderate-term on-the-job training
BLS says workers usually learn the setup, safety, and inspection steps through moderate-term on-the-job training after they are hired.
Manufacturing safety or production certificate
A short certificate in shop safety, machine guarding, or production basics can help, but it is usually an add-on rather than a full replacement for employer training.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 56%
Forging Press Setup, Die Changes & Ram Adjustment 55%
Machine Control Panels, Pressure & Stroke Settings 54%
Reading Work Orders, Specs & Blueprints 53%
Monitoring 53%
Operation and Control 53%
Production Timing & Changeover Planning 50%
Overhead Crane, Hoists & Rigging Basics 50%
Quality Control Inspection with Gauges, Calipers & Micrometers 47%
Soft Skills
Active listeningAttention to detailTeamworkCommunicationProblem-solvingDependability Job Outlook and Trends
+-18.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 8.8K to 7.2 K over the next decade, representing -18.9% growth. Around 0.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.