Production · Holland code RCI

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

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

Also called: Blacksmith, Hammer Operator, Machine Operator, Process Technician (Process Tech), Forge Operator, Forge Press Operator, Forger, Header Operator.

O*NET 51-4022.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $49,030; Middle half earn $42,440 to $60,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.
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.
Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Monitoring3.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension2.9 / 5
Active Listening2.9 / 5
Speaking2.9 / 5
Critical Thinking2.9 / 5
Writing2.4 / 5

Knowledge areas

Production and Processing4.0 / 5
Mechanical3.6 / 5
Mathematics2.6 / 5
English Language2.3 / 5
Education and Training2.2 / 5
Administration and Management2.1 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic96
Investigative27
Artistic1
Social0
Enterprising3
Conventional56

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

blacksmith · DE Schmied/Schmiedin · FR forgeron/forgeronne
drop forging hammer worker · DE Gesenkschmied/Gesenkschmiedin · FR forgeron pilonnier/forgeronne pilonnière
hydraulic forging press worker · DE Maschinenbediener für hydraulische Schmiedepresse/Maschinenbedienerin für hydraulische Schmiedepresse · FR opérateur de presse de forge hydraulique/opératrice de presse de forge hydraulique
mechanical forging press worker · DE Maschinenbediener für mechanische Schmiedepresse/Maschinenbedienerin für mechanische Schmiedepresse · FR opérateur de presse de forge mécanique/opératrice de presse de forge mécanique
stamping press operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Stanzpresse/Maschinenbedienerin für Stanzpresse · FR emboutisseur/emboutisseuse
straightening machine operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Richtmaschine/Maschinenbedienerin für Richtmaschine · FR dresseur/dresseuse

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Metal machining setters and setter-operators (5221)40,400 employed
Metal making and treating process operatives (8115)11,500 employed
Metal working machine operatives (8120)28,100 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Craft and related trades workers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€40,086
Germany	€38,638
Austria	€38,194
Sweden	€37,856
Netherlands	€37,077
Ireland	€36,098
France	€27,145
Italy	€26,488
Spain	€22,817
Portugal	€11,142
Poland	€10,099

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.80. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-4022).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

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