Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · Tennessee

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

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $43,810 —10.6% below the national median of $49,030. That ranks TN #25 of 32 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$43,810
Median hourly
$21.06
Entry level (P10)
$37,140
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$59,200
90th percentile
Employment
1,140
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-10.6%
U.S. $49,030

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$37,140
$39,090
$43,810
$46,990
$37,140$43,810$59,200
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $43,810.

Employment is 6.08× as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

All 32 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$69,210$33.27300.31
2Oklahoma$61,720$29.68——
3Michigan$61,620$29.636202.46
4Nebraska$60,460$29.072003.37
5Wisconsin$60,310$29.00800.47
6California$59,250$28.497500.71
7Colorado$57,970$27.871400.86
8Ohio$56,870$27.345001.58
9New York$56,350$27.092600.46
10Missouri$55,210$26.54600.33

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

How much do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Tennessee is $43,810, or $21.06 per hour. That is 10.6% below the national median of $49,030.

What is the entry-level forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,140 per year ($17.86/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,090.

How many people work as forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Tennessee?

About 1,140 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

Tennessee ranks #25 of 32 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 6.08x as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $69,210 per year, followed by Oklahoma ($61,720) and Michigan ($61,620).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes