Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

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.

Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic	$18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.56
Pourers and casters, metal	13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers	12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers	13.65

Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic held about 1.3 million jobs in 2002. Approximately 9 of 10 jobs were found in manufacturing. About 38 percent of all employment was in these manufacturing industries: transportation equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic by detailed occupation.

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	283,000
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	151,000
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	104,000
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	99,000
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	98,000
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	75,000
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	53,000
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	45,000
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,000
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,000
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	26,000
Foundry mold and coremakers	23,000
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,000
Pourers and casters, metal	13,000
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	13,000
Model makers, metal and plastic	8,500
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	6,500
All other metal workers and plastic workers	104,000

(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic)

See more recent statistics for employed workers below.

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Earnings

Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
	Percentile annual earnings, $
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
National
U.S. employment: 35,850 mean earnings: $29,500	17,960	22,420	27,910	35,060	44,400
State and Metro Area
Alabama (ACS) (EAG) employment: 640 mean earnings: $28,090	17,290	20,140	25,220	33,230	48,110
Birmingham, AL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $26,820	17,160	19,780	24,250	30,850	42,710
Arizona (ACS) (EAG) employment: 430 mean earnings: $27,650	19,270	22,480	27,110	32,490	37,460
Phoenix - Mesa, AZ employment: 370 mean earnings: $27,420	18,820	22,510	27,180	32,260	36,840
Arkansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 360 mean earnings: $22,350	13,720	16,400	20,900	28,630	34,290
California (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,150 mean earnings: $31,710	19,270	23,330	31,540	39,060	45,130
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA employment: 880 mean earnings: $32,620	19,810	24,710	32,970	39,120	45,410
Oakland, CA employment: 200 mean earnings: $34,250	20,340	23,230	36,370	42,040	46,260
Orange County, CA employment: 290 mean earnings: $34,150	18,770	24,630	35,770	43,350	47,940
Riverside - San Bernardino, CA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 200 mean earnings: $26,630	16,680	18,970	25,230	33,390	40,910
Sacramento, CA employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,290	17,360	19,870	28,840	42,810	50,250
San Diego, CA employment: 90 mean earnings: $32,990	22,490	26,910	33,300	39,370	43,440
San Jose, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,660	19,960	23,830	28,830	33,470	36,560
Ventura, CA employment: 80 mean earnings: $30,260	17,720	21,120	31,000	38,340	43,340
Connecticut (ACS) (EAG) employment: 410 mean earnings: $30,480	20,530	24,710	29,090	34,660	42,790
Bridgeport, CT employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,230	22,510	26,140	30,360	34,700	37,480
Hartford, CT employment: 160 mean earnings: $30,080	20,530	24,160	28,740	34,190	43,000
Waterbury, CT employment: 40 mean earnings: $24,140	17,300	19,430	22,360	27,500	36,110
Florida (ACS) (EAG) employment: 570 mean earnings: $23,690	15,700	17,910	22,890	27,490	33,300
Miami, FL employment: 210 mean earnings: $26,360	13,970	19,250	24,820	30,290	43,450
Georgia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 660 mean earnings: $25,870	16,870	20,670	24,960	31,270	35,700
Atlanta, GA employment: 320 mean earnings: $25,570	16,530	19,910	23,570	31,590	35,870
Idaho (ACS) (EAG) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,330	17,540	23,650	28,490	34,780	38,290
Illinois (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,820 mean earnings: $30,550	17,800	24,220	27,840	37,810	45,240
Chicago, IL employment: 1,840 mean earnings: $30,640	16,460	24,260	28,110	38,070	46,100
Rockford, IL employment: 150 mean earnings: $37,470	20,880	34,220	39,640	43,570	47,490
Indiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,670 mean earnings: $28,130	19,900	23,370	27,750	32,940	36,580
Elkhart - Goshen, IN employment: 90 mean earnings: $32,960	24,510	27,980	31,770	35,660	47,540
Fort Wayne, IN employment: 180 mean earnings: $27,820	17,180	22,900	27,300	32,680	36,140
Gary, IN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $26,030	19,020	20,240	22,270	32,140	38,910
Indianapolis, IN Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 230 mean earnings: $25,900	19,250	20,710	23,170	31,000	35,610
South Bend, IN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $26,940	13,420	17,580	31,740	35,070	37,080
Iowa (ACS) (EAG) employment: 490 mean earnings: $31,860	20,900	24,240	29,640	39,320	47,620
Davenport - Moline - Rock Island, IA - IL employment: 70 mean earnings: $25,680	19,260	20,440	22,390	28,160	40,920
Kansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 370 mean earnings: $25,510	15,100	21,270	25,480	29,460	34,600
Kentucky (ACS) (EAG) employment: 800 mean earnings: $24,980	18,090	19,490	22,090	30,140	37,010
Louisville, KY - IN employment: 260 mean earnings: $26,300	19,170	21,700	25,970	30,220	35,160
Louisiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 270 mean earnings: $24,030	18,510	20,390	23,140	26,680	32,440
Maryland (ACS) (EAG) employment: 330 mean earnings: $29,880	19,280	23,660	28,370	36,640	42,800
Baltimore, MD employment: 220 mean earnings: $32,270	23,190	26,500	30,640	39,070	43,910
Massachusetts (ACS) (EAG) employment: 590 mean earnings: $38,000	24,770	30,260	38,510	46,340	52,980
Springfield, MA employment: 70 mean earnings: $42,080	35,010	38,410	41,970	45,520	52,570
Michigan (ACS) (EAG) employment: 3,250 mean earnings: $32,520	20,230	25,410	30,380	39,010	49,030
Ann Arbor, MI employment: 280 mean earnings: $29,270	23,910	25,280	27,480	30,070	41,820
Detroit, MI employment: 1,500 mean earnings: $36,090	24,510	27,930	33,730	43,440	52,880
Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Holland, MI employment: 320 mean earnings: $31,840	21,810	27,600	31,370	34,630	45,740
Kalamazoo - Battle Creek, MI employment: 420 mean earnings: $22,200	14,890	16,160	19,520	26,700	34,900
Minnesota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 480 mean earnings: $29,120	20,370	24,160	30,380	34,250	36,660
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN - WI employment: 400 mean earnings: $29,740	21,630	25,150	30,850	34,490	36,690
Missouri (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,030 mean earnings: $27,060	20,520	24,150	26,870	29,530	34,000
Joplin, MO employment: 50 mean earnings: $26,530	20,530	23,670	26,310	29,670	33,950
Kansas City, MO - KS Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,530	15,730	23,790	29,660	37,480	42,090
St. Louis, MO - IL employment: 150 mean earnings: $38,100	24,150	29,820	39,330	45,510	53,320
Nebraska (ACS) (EAG) employment: 550 mean earnings: $25,710	17,040	22,580	26,460	29,850	33,300
Nevada (ACS) (EAG) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,570	19,150	20,590	23,000	29,650	35,650
Reno, NV employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,560	19,140	20,550	22,890	29,510	36,110
New Hampshire (ACS) (EAG) employment: 40 mean earnings: $31,120	20,530	26,550	32,090	35,110	37,580
New Jersey (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 680 mean earnings: $23,170	13,570	16,820	21,200	28,530	36,260
Bergen - Passaic, NJ employment: n.a. mean earnings: $17,950	11,730	13,260	16,470	21,060	26,980
Middlesex - Somerset - Hunterdon, NJ employment: 270 mean earnings: $23,410	15,750	18,110	21,480	27,130	35,220
Newark, NJ employment: 150 mean earnings: $30,070	18,690	22,100	30,310	36,430	42,820
New Mexico (ACS) (EAG) employment: 30 mean earnings: $29,060	18,740	22,530	30,800	34,760	38,930
New York (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,590 mean earnings: $38,140	21,080	25,940	34,510	51,980	57,080
Binghamton, NY employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,630	20,860	23,640	27,580	32,370	36,860
Jamestown, NY employment: 80 mean earnings: $37,790	23,310	26,190	32,040	48,560	64,300
Nassau - Suffolk, NY employment: 70 mean earnings: $29,570	20,420	23,360	27,970	33,040	46,160
New York, NY employment: 110 mean earnings: $25,160	17,550	20,020	23,460	29,100	35,080
Rochester, NY employment: 90 mean earnings: $24,070	18,870	20,210	22,450	26,450	28,800
Syracuse, NY employment: 100 mean earnings: $33,620	20,740	25,170	30,930	40,270	51,540
North Carolina (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 950 mean earnings: $29,540	17,140	22,050	28,750	35,220	42,980
Charlotte - Gastonia - Rock Hill, NC - SC employment: 210 mean earnings: $37,030	23,170	26,630	36,420	45,250	54,450
Greensboro - - Winston - Salem - - High Point, NC employment: 60 mean earnings: $27,850	17,160	19,680	23,700	34,210	45,330
Ohio (ACS) (EAG) employment: 3,770 mean earnings: $32,090	20,540	24,160	29,620	38,020	50,280
Akron, OH employment: 350 mean earnings: $29,540	18,070	23,660	27,400	36,200	43,760
Cleveland - Lorain - Elyria, OH employment: 660 mean earnings: $33,170	20,550	24,250	32,200	41,170	48,600
Dayton - Springfield, OH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,450	15,030	23,590	27,600	32,860	39,640
Lima, OH employment: 170 mean earnings: $32,480	19,530	24,570	30,450	37,450	44,010
Oklahoma (ACS) (EAG) employment: 660 mean earnings: $23,280	14,240	16,780	20,570	29,100	37,850
Oklahoma City, OK employment: 40 mean earnings: $27,560	19,160	22,700	29,140	32,700	34,820
Tulsa, OK employment: 250 mean earnings: $28,690	17,900	20,180	27,640	36,910	42,800
Oregon (ACS) (EAG) employment: 210 mean earnings: $40,440	26,000	36,490	41,180	45,900	54,350
Portland - Vancouver, OR - WA employment: 130 mean earnings: $39,090	24,990	28,750	39,490	45,890	55,220
Pennsylvania (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,820 mean earnings: $30,260	19,710	24,500	30,050	35,630	42,480
Harrisburg - Lebanon - Carlisle, PA employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,130	21,320	29,820	32,310	34,760	36,240
Johnstown, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $36,140	29,920	32,140	35,860	41,180	44,730
Lancaster, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,680	19,310	24,040	27,480	32,070	35,460
Philadelphia, PA - NJ employment: 390 mean earnings: $33,200	20,640	28,420	33,290	38,840	45,730
Pittsburgh, PA employment: 280 mean earnings: $27,660	17,390	22,860	27,410	32,990	38,440
Reading, PA employment: 40 mean earnings: $32,540	21,210	29,700	32,430	35,160	43,860
Scranton - - Wilkes - Barre - - Hazleton, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $26,950	19,590	21,650	25,640	30,920	36,310
Sharon, PA employment: 130 mean earnings: $30,650	22,670	26,780	31,240	34,980	40,820
York, PA employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,600	23,970	26,010	31,680	37,840	42,010
Rhode Island (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 40 mean earnings: $30,050	23,990	26,630	30,400	33,660	35,620
Providence - Fall River - Warwick, RI - MA employment: 90 mean earnings: $28,590	20,520	23,890	27,840	32,480	35,300
South Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,170 mean earnings: $27,650	19,070	21,380	26,500	33,460	39,990
Greenville - Spartanburg - Anderson, SC employment: 360 mean earnings: $27,970	17,020	19,310	24,440	39,110	43,870
South Dakota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $28,760	20,640	23,610	27,410	32,660	41,840
Sioux Falls, SD employment: 50 mean earnings: $31,430	20,820	23,840	28,420	41,080	45,530
Tennessee (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,250 mean earnings: $27,410	19,690	23,650	27,810	32,390	35,050
Chattanooga, TN - GA employment: 30 mean earnings: $25,160	20,300	23,180	25,440	27,450	29,330
Johnson City - Kingsport - Bristol, TN - VA employment: 180 mean earnings: $28,530	22,090	24,960	28,460	32,880	35,580
Knoxville, TN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,560	20,490	23,540	27,830	32,190	34,960
Memphis, TN - AR - MS employment: 120 mean earnings: $25,710	18,940	22,990	26,160	28,780	32,550
Nashville, TN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,480	27,590	29,890	32,060	34,280	35,620
Texas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,150 mean earnings: $24,010	15,070	16,750	22,270	30,110	36,240
Beaumont - Port Arthur, TX employment: 130 mean earnings: $34,710	22,520	28,040	33,290	36,710	54,830
Dallas, TX employment: 280 mean earnings: $23,000	15,150	16,790	21,870	28,240	33,920
Houston, TX employment: 570 mean earnings: $21,790	13,320	15,630	18,100	26,890	34,160
Longview - Marshall, TX employment: 60 mean earnings: $24,730	18,270	20,790	24,520	28,030	33,290
San Antonio, TX employment: 130 mean earnings: $23,870	18,550	19,820	21,950	27,810	32,820
Utah (ACS) (EAG) employment: 100 mean earnings: $31,850	22,630	25,420	30,060	38,070	45,000
Salt Lake City - Ogden, UT employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,970	22,210	26,260	31,410	40,850	45,800
Vermont (ACS) (EAG) employment: 40 mean earnings: $26,270	19,710	22,620	25,880	30,020	33,820
Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 480 mean earnings: $24,870	16,990	20,650	24,480	27,580	34,370
Washington (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $31,240	18,890	21,850	31,560	39,120	44,270
Seattle - Bellevue - Everett, WA employment: 80 mean earnings: $36,280	29,660	32,760	36,920	40,840	43,530
Tacoma, WA employment: 60 mean earnings: $25,570	17,440	19,640	22,680	32,020	36,340
West Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 160 mean earnings: $27,150	20,100	22,500	26,090	29,510	35,690
Wisconsin (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,770 mean earnings: $29,630	16,400	21,040	28,180	37,060	45,160
Appleton - Oshkosh - Neenah, WI employment: 190 mean earnings: $32,430	23,800	25,810	29,830	38,920	45,280
La Crosse, WI - MN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $37,390	20,180	23,160	38,850	49,590	57,190
Madison, WI employment: 120 mean earnings: $31,890	27,550	30,180	32,500	34,820	36,220
Milwaukee - Waukesha, WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $23,860	14,070	16,440	20,210	29,520	40,630
Puerto Rico (ACS) (EAG) employment: 70 mean earnings: $15,700	12,080	12,940	14,400	17,210	21,980
San Juan - Bayamon, PR Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 70 mean earnings: $15,690	12,070	12,900	14,310	17,200	22,140

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The highlighted text indicates the maximum values in each column among the states and metropolitan areas.

The (ACS) links lead to data from the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

The (EAG) links lead to U.S. Economy at a Glance data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.