SOC 51-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — California
California · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California is $59,250 per year, 20.8% above the national median of $49,030.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California is $59,250 per year, 20.8% above the national median of $49,030. Half of workers earn between $45,850 and $78,240. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $43,390 and the ninetieth at $81,730.
The area has 750 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.0 of every thousand jobs. California ranks number 6th out of 32 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $67,230. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 498th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,390 | −11.5% |
| 25th | $45,850 | −6.5% |
| Median (50th) | $59,250 | +20.8% |
| 75th | $78,240 | +59.6% |
| 90th | $81,730 | +66.7% |
| Mean | $61,470 | +25.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $67,230 | 40 | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $59,320 | 510 | |
| 3 | Riverside | $49,180 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $59,250 buys what $53,523 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,250as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,523US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,250 a year, 20.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,390 to $81,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 750 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 32 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $67,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California?
The median annual wage is $59,250, or $28.49 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $49,030, so pay in California is 20.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $81,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $67,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 750 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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