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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$49240	600	-18.9%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$49240

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

600

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

-18.9%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

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

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Detailed Work Activities

Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
Conduct test runs of production equipment.
Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
Exchange information with colleagues.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Replace worn equipment components.
Repair production equipment or tools.
Operate cutting equipment.
Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Select production equipment according to product specifications.
Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Operate grinding equipment.
Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
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.
Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.
Sharpen cutting tools and drill bits, using bench grinders.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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