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

Production · SOC 51-4022

0.0% AI Exposure — Low

$49,030

Median Annual Salary

Average

O*NET Outlook

1,200

Proj. Annual Openings

8,930

Employment (OEWS 2025)

100/100

AI Resiliency Score

AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.

AI Exposure Analysis

AI Exposure0.0%

AI Resiliency100/100

Exposure BandLow

Sector Avg. Exposure0.8%

1.Operations Monitoring

2.Reading Comprehension

3.Active Listening

4.Monitoring

5.Operation and Control

O*NET occupation profile

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

Common titles: Blacksmith, Cold Header Operator, Forge Operator, Forge Press Operator, Forger, Hammer Operator

•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.

•Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
•Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
•Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
•Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
•Operate cutting equipment.

Email softwareInventory tracking softwareMachine control software

Occupations Shown

0.5%

Avg AI Exposure

Bright Outlook