Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee
Considering working as a Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee? Here’s what the data says. Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
What do Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Make in Tennessee?
The forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in Tennessee, wages run about $36,000 per year (or roughly $17.31/hour).Earnings range from $30,710 at the 10th percentile to $58,180 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,710 | $14.77 |
| 25th percentile | $33,480 | $16.10 |
| Median (50th) | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| 75th percentile | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| 90th percentile | $58,180 | $27.97 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Tennessee relative to the national average — is 3.53, indicating that forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn a median of $33,957 per year ($16.33/hour), exceeding the Tennessee median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 512,972 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.. In Tennessee alone, approximately 660 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 210 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
Top Tennessee Metros for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
These are the Tennessee metros with the most forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Tennessee.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 110 | $38,220 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 80 | $30,210 |
| Johnson City, TN | 70 | $34,180 |
Top States for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Employment
The table below shows the states where the most forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 860 |
| Michigan | 780 |
| Ohio | 680 |
| Tennessee | 660 |
| Texas | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | 530 |
| California | 480 |
| Illinois | 320 |
| Virginia | 310 |
| Indiana | 280 |
| Massachusetts | 250 |
| Connecticut | 220 |
| Georgia | 210 |
| Nebraska | 190 |
| Arkansas | 180 |
| Colorado | 170 |
| New York | 160 |
| Florida | 150 |
| South Carolina | 130 |
| Kansas | 130 |
Highest-Paying States for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Where forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn the most: forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $63,630 |
| Massachusetts | $60,540 |
| Kentucky | $59,700 |
| Nebraska | $58,560 |
| California | $57,620 |
| Oklahoma | $56,030 |
| Colorado | $55,990 |
| New York | $53,140 |
| Virginia | $53,050 |
| Oregon | $52,040 |
Skills
Key forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic typically:
- Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
- Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
- Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product 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.
- Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
- 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.
- Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
- Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
- Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
- Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Getting Information
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Thinking Creatively
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved:
- Email software (electronic mail software)
- Inventory tracking software (inventory management software)
- Machine control software (industrial control software)
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Precision Metal Working
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Related Careers
Other careers like forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic include:
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also Known As
Air Table Operator, Anvil Seating Press Operator, Automatic Casting-Forging Machine Operator, Blacksmith, Board Hammer Operator, Bolt Machine Operator, Buckshot Swage Operator, Bulldozer Operator, Bulldozer Press Operator, Cage Maker, Charging Manipulator, Cold Header Operator, Die Forger, Die Holder, Die Machine Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-4022.00