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Blacksmith / Forge Worker

Quick Facts

Median Salary$44,550
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-7.60%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment

What They Do

A Blacksmith or Forge Worker hammers and forges bars, rods, ingots and plates of iron, steel or other metals, and draws wire to make and repair various kinds of tools, metal articles, pieces of equipment, and agricultural and related implements.


Core Tasks:

  • Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
  • Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
  • Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
  • 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.
  • Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
  • Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
  • Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
  • Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
  • Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
  • Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.

What to expect as a Blacksmith / Forge Worker

1Earn a High school or GED Diploma

23% of people achieve this level of education.

2Gain skills and experience

See Blacksmith / Forge Worker related courses on Tallo

3Land a job

79 openings for Blacksmiths / Forge Workers

Career Progression

in United States (Nation)

The career progression is an interactive way to explore careers related to Blacksmith / Forge Worker. Click on each career to see its associated salary, job availability, skills, and more.