Production
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Blacksmith, Forge Operator, Forge Press Operator, Forger
US median pay
$49,030
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-17.2%
declining
Openings a year (US)
600
8,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
- Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
- Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Operation and Control3.2/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.9/5
- Equipment Maintenance2.9/5
- Troubleshooting2.8/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Coordination2.8/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Mechanical3.6/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
- English Language2.3/5
- Education and Training2.2/5
- Computers and Electronics2.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.