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All About Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
Position Description Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
Daily Life Of a Forging Machine Operator
- Sharpen cutting tools and drill bits, using bench grinders.
- Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
- Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
- Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to 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.
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Things a Forging Machine Operator Should Know How to Do
Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Types of Forging Machine Operator Jobs
- Die Holder
- Heat Reader
- Plastic Shaper
- Forging Machine Operator
- Spike Machine Operator
Job Outlook for Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
There were about 19,200 jobs for Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,400 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Forging Machine Operator are Tennessee, Arizona, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in New Hampshire, Kansas, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Forging Machine Operator Make?
The average yearly salary of a Forging Machine Operator ranges between $25,100 and $60,310.
Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender who work in Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Indiana, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,870 |
| Arizona | $37,810 |
| Arkansas | $38,530 |
| California | $38,450 |
| Colorado | $40,880 |
| Connecticut | $28,890 |
| Florida | $30,260 |
| Georgia | $42,370 |
| Illinois | $39,600 |
| Indiana | $46,980 |
| Iowa | $35,370 |
| Kansas | $38,810 |
| Kentucky | $38,240 |
| Maryland | $32,450 |
| Massachusetts | $31,160 |
| Michigan | $38,550 |
| Minnesota | $41,390 |
| Mississippi | $36,220 |
| Missouri | $40,460 |
| New Hampshire | $39,060 |
| New Jersey | $36,760 |
| New York | $42,680 |
| North Carolina | $36,930 |
| Ohio | $40,110 |
| Oklahoma | $56,700 |
| Oregon | $39,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,490 |
| Rhode Island | $37,490 |
| South Carolina | $33,130 |
| South Dakota | $40,190 |
| Tennessee | $50,300 |
| Texas | $36,310 |
| Vermont | $44,880 |
| Virginia | $41,690 |
| Wisconsin | $41,770 |
What Tools do Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender may use on a daily basis:
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Inventory tracking software
- Machine control software
How do I Become a Forging Machine Operator?
What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender Are Employed
Below are examples of industries where Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender work:
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.