Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Richmond, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Richmond, VA

Median annual salary $54,230 +10.1% vs national
Median hourly $26.07
10th percentile $44,820
90th percentile $58,560
Employed locally 70
National median $49,240

Compare Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Richmond, VA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,820
    25th
    $49,500
    50th (median)
    $54,230
    75th
    $56,710
    90th
    $58,560

    Richmond economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,405 2023 • Census ACS
    Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 64% Median Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 36% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Worcester, MA $86,590
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $65,690
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $65,530
    New Jersey $63,630
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $62,590
    Massachusetts $60,540

    Nearby metros — Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nevada $49,920
    Pennsylvania $49,590
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $48,320
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $30,210

    Related occupations in Richmond, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,400
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $73,480
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $47,630
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $48,180
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $56,670
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $30,990

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Richmond?

    The median hourly wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Richmond, VA is $26.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.15 or more per hour.

    Is Richmond above or below average for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Richmond, VA is 10.1% above the national median of $49,240. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Richmond?

    Entry-level Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $44,820 per year in Richmond, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,500.