As of June 2026, Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has an AI-exposure score of 51/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

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

51/100
Elevated exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 36% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$49,030. About 600 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Production roles

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (you)
51
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51
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
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Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
50
Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
50
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (100%).

Augmentable
  • Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
  • Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
  • Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
  • Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
  • Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
  • Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
  • Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.
  • Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
  • Sharpen cutting tools and drill bits, using bench grinders.
  • Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
  • Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
  • Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
  • Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (100%).

Safer adjacent roles

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$50,620
48
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$46,330
46
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
64% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$43,380
41
Tool and Die Makers
56% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$64,050
46
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
48% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$47,180
58
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$50,140
55
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$42,660
41

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.