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

Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California earn the most in San Francisco (average $72,070 a year) and the least in Riverside ($54,270), across the 3 California metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic average at $61,470 and the median at $59,250 for 750 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $51,680.

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic average salary by city in California

San Francisco$72,070
Los Angeles$61,970
Riverside$54,270

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
San Francisco	$72,070	$67,230	$64,520	$56,838	116
Los Angeles	$61,970	$59,320	$46,430	$50,062	114
Riverside	$54,270	$49,180	$45,180	$44,337	106

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other states

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city and state

More about pay in California

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4022.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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