Also called: Forging Machine Operators
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic build operations monitoring, operation and control and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (88%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 88% | $43,380 | −12% | None |
| 2 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 87% | $45,760 | −7% | None |
| 3 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 85% | $50,270 | +3% | None |
| 4 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 84% | $46,350 | −5% | None |
| 5 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 83% | $46,570 | −5% | None |
| 6 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 82% | $42,660 | −13% | None |
| 7 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 82% | $46,460 | −5% | None |
| 8 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 81% | $50,690 | +3% | None |
| 9 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 81% | $53,710 | +10% | None |
| 10 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 80% | $48,990 | 0% | None |
Compared with Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, median $49,030. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
88% skill match · $43,380 · −12% pay
Equipment Selection · Programming · Management of Material Resources
87% skill match · $45,760 · −7% pay
Management of Material Resources · Operation and Control · Equipment Selection
85% skill match · $50,270 · +3% pay
Management of Material Resources · Persuasion · Service Orientation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (88% skill match, median $43,380), Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (87% skill match, median $45,760) and Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (85% skill match, median $50,270), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 13 pay more than forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+108%, $102,040), Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (+58%, $77,320) and Industrial Machinery Mechanics (+32%, $64,520).
23 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.