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Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18,300 | 3.7 % | $19.39 | $40,340 | 3.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $11.61 | $14.55 | $18.58 | $23.59 | $28.74 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $24,150 | $30,270 | $38,650 | $49,070 | $59,790 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 5,440 | 1.17 | $18.28 | $38,030 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 2,380 | 0.41 | $15.69 | $32,630 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 2,000 | 0.34 | $19.67 | $40,910 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,220 | 0.35 | $18.96 | $39,430 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 870 | 1.08 | $23.06 | $47,970 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 5,440 | 1.17 | $18.28 | $38,030 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 870 | 1.08 | $23.06 | $47,970 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 270 | 0.49 | $18.60 | $38,700 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 2,380 | 0.41 | $15.69 | $32,630 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 210 | 0.36 | $20.62 | $42,890 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 380 | 0.02 | $25.82 | $53,700 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 370 | 0.08 | $24.33 | $50,600 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 870 | 1.08 | $23.06 | $47,970 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 210 | 0.36 | $20.62 | $42,890 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | (8) | (8) | $19.69 | $40,960 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 2,740 | 0.94 | 7.32 | $24.60 | $51,170 |
| Indiana | 1,600 | 0.53 | 4.12 | $21.39 | $44,490 |
| Texas | 1,540 | 0.13 | 1.01 | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| California | 1,470 | 0.09 | 0.69 | $18.49 | $38,450 |
| Michigan | 1,170 | 0.27 | 2.14 | $17.89 | $37,200 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 2,740 | 0.94 | 7.32 | $24.60 | $51,170 |
| Indiana | 1,600 | 0.53 | 4.12 | $21.39 | $44,490 |
| Alabama | 980 | 0.51 | 3.99 | $20.81 | $43,290 |
| Kentucky | 600 | 0.32 | 2.51 | $18.79 | $39,070 |
| Michigan | 1,170 | 0.27 | 2.14 | $17.89 | $37,200 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 2,740 | 0.94 | 7.32 | $24.60 | $51,170 |
| Indiana | 1,600 | 0.53 | 4.12 | $21.39 | $44,490 |
| Alabama | 980 | 0.51 | 3.99 | $20.81 | $43,290 |
| New York | 280 | 0.03 | 0.24 | $20.14 | $41,880 |
| Pennsylvania | 770 | 0.13 | 1.04 | $20.05 | $41,700 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,110 | 2.25 | 17.49 | $26.70 | $55,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 650 | 0.15 | 1.15 | $18.44 | $38,360 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 640 | 0.22 | 1.71 | $16.58 | $34,480 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 390 | 0.11 | 0.84 | $20.31 | $42,240 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 360 | 0.37 | 2.86 | $16.72 | $34,770 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 330 | 0.32 | 2.50 | $20.68 | $43,010 |
| Columbus, IN | 320 | 6.59 | 51.35 | $16.59 | $34,510 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 280 | 1.29 | 10.03 | $17.18 | $35,740 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 240 | 0.15 | 1.16 | $18.20 | $37,850 |
| Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI Metropolitan Division | 220 | 0.30 | 2.31 | $18.87 | $39,260 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, IN | 320 | 6.59 | 51.35 | $16.59 | $34,510 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 170 | 2.27 | 17.69 | $20.87 | $43,400 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,110 | 2.25 | 17.49 | $26.70 | $55,540 |
| Rockford, IL | 210 | 1.47 | 11.41 | $19.17 | $39,870 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 160 | 1.45 | 11.30 | $19.49 | $40,540 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 280 | 1.29 | 10.03 | $17.18 | $35,740 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 190 | 0.71 | 5.56 | $20.82 | $43,310 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 360 | 0.37 | 2.86 | $16.72 | $34,770 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 40 | 0.35 | 2.69 | $17.78 | $36,970 |
| Erie, PA | 40 | 0.33 | 2.57 | $20.52 | $42,690 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,110 | 2.25 | 17.49 | $26.70 | $55,540 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.03 | 0.26 | $21.14 | $43,970 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 170 | 2.27 | 17.69 | $20.87 | $43,400 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 190 | 0.71 | 5.56 | $20.82 | $43,310 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | (8) | (8) | (8) | $20.81 | $43,280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 150 | 0.13 | 0.98 | $20.72 | $43,090 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 330 | 0.32 | 2.50 | $20.68 | $43,010 |
| Erie, PA | 40 | 0.33 | 2.57 | $20.52 | $42,690 |
| Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division | 150 | 0.14 | 1.10 | $20.51 | $42,660 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 390 | 0.11 | 0.84 | $20.31 | $42,240 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.17 | 9.12 | $20.66 | $42,960 |
| Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 1.19 | 9.28 | $18.62 | $38,730 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.37 | 10.67 | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.70 | 5.48 | $19.64 | $40,840 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.31 | 2.40 | $14.26 | $29,660 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.37 | 10.67 | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 1.19 | 9.28 | $18.62 | $38,730 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.17 | 9.12 | $20.66 | $42,960 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.70 | 5.48 | $19.64 | $40,840 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.43 | 3.36 | $17.54 | $36,480 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.37 | 10.67 | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.17 | 9.12 | $20.66 | $42,960 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.70 | 5.48 | $19.64 | $40,840 |
| Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.24 | 1.88 | $18.90 | $39,320 |
| Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 1.19 | 9.28 | $18.62 | $38,730 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018