Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,560 or more. The middle half of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Richmond earn between $49,500 and $56,710.
- $45K10th
- $50K25th
- $54KMedian
- $57K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,780 | $4,398 | $25.38 |
| Median | $54,230 | $4,519 | $26.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,500 | $4,125 | $23.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,710 | $4,726 | $27.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Richmond earn about the same as the Virginia average ($53,590) and about the same as the U.S. average ($51,680). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $49,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $52,780 | $54,230 | $44,820 | $58,560 | 70 |
| Virginia | $53,590 | $54,230 | $47,740 | $59,930 | 560 |
| United States | $51,680 | $49,030 | $36,800 | $68,720 | 8,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary after taxes in Richmond
On the average salary of $52,780, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $42,368 a year, or $3,531 a month and $1,630 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $52,780 buys what about $53,935 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 1st of 2 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Richmond$52,780
- Virginia Beach$51,320
All Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries in Virginia
Highest-paying cities for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($72,070).
- San Francisco, CA$72,070
- Boston, MA$62,630
- Los Angeles, CA$61,970
- Denver, CO$60,360
- Philadelphia, PA$59,440
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city
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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Richmond: questions
How much do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make an hour in Richmond?
$25.38 an hour on average, and $26.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic take-home pay in Richmond?
About $42,368 a year ($3,531 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,780.
Do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($51,680).
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; area Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.92, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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