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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Los Angeles, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Los Angeles, CA have a median annual salary of $59,320, with 510 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $44,090 at the 10th percentile to $81,600 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$59,320

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$28.52

Employment

510

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$44,090
10th
$46,430
25th
$59,320
Median
$78,500
75th
$81,600
90th

Local compared with national

Los Angeles, CA

$59,320

Median annual · 2025

United States

$49,030

Median annual · 2025

The Los Angeles, CA median is 21.0% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $10,290).

Top skills

  1. 1.Operations MonitoringImportance 3.4
  2. 2.Operation and ControlImportance 3.3
  3. 3.MonitoringImportance 3.1
  4. 4.Reading ComprehensionImportance 2.9
  5. 5.Active ListeningImportance 2.9
  6. 6.SpeakingImportance 2.9
  7. 7.Critical ThinkingImportance 2.9
  8. 8.Equipment MaintenanceImportance 2.9
  9. 9.Quality Control AnalysisImportance 2.9
  10. 10.CoordinationImportance 2.8
  11. 11.TroubleshootingImportance 2.8
  12. 12.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 2.8

Career information

Education and experience

Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Email software
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Machine control software

Common tasks

  • 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.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other locations

Other occupations in Los Angeles, CA