Career Paths From Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.9% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 6% lower.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$46,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersLateral Move93.4% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 5% lower.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$46,350
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move93% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
RiggersCareer Change93.3% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Riggers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Riggers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$62,640
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticLateral Move93.9% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 6% lower.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$46,170
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crane and Tower OperatorsCareer Change94.2% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Crane and Tower Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Crane and Tower Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 39% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$68,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasCareer Change94.5% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 38% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$67,890
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersCareer Change93.3% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 52% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$74,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move93.4% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 12% lower.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$43,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsCareer Change94.5% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Continuous Mining Machine Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Continuous Mining Machine Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 26% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$61,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except BrickmasonsCareer Change93.6% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 25% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$61,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move93.2% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$49,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Highway Maintenance WorkersCareer Change94.8% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Highway Maintenance Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Highway Maintenance Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$50,260
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and HostlersCareer Change93% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 24% higher.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$60,600
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodLateral Move93.3% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$49,030
Target median salary
$42,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.