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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in PA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in PA have a median annual salary of $50,280, with 550 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $42,800 at the 10th percentile to $71,490 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

$50,280

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$24.18

Employment

550

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$42,800
10th
$45,260
25th
$50,280
Median
$63,490
75th
$71,490
90th

Local compared with national

PA

$50,280

Median annual · 2025

United States

$49,030

Median annual · 2025

The PA median is 2.5% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $1,250).

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 PA