Life As a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
Position Description Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator Responsibilities
- Maintain an inventory of materials.
- Change dies on extruding machines according to production line changes.
- Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
- Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
- Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
- Clean work areas.
Featured schools near , edit
Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles
- Wire Drawing Machine Operator
- Operator
- Lead Press Operator
- Wire Mill Rover
- Computer Numerical Control Operator (CNC Operator)
Is There Job Demand for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 72,300 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 5,600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator are Utah, Georgia, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator Salary
The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $23,840 and $52,060.

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Iowa, South Carolina, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $28,830 |
Arizona | $33,560 |
Arkansas | $35,230 |
California | $34,520 |
Colorado | $39,060 |
Connecticut | $42,960 |
Delaware | $38,540 |
Florida | $31,350 |
Georgia | $34,210 |
Idaho | $30,090 |
Illinois | $40,470 |
Indiana | $35,650 |
Iowa | $45,820 |
Kansas | $36,050 |
Kentucky | $37,550 |
Louisiana | $35,130 |
Maine | $38,330 |
Maryland | $35,500 |
Massachusetts | $39,300 |
Michigan | $32,040 |
Minnesota | $40,500 |
Mississippi | $30,250 |
Missouri | $35,630 |
Nebraska | $38,520 |
Nevada | $33,910 |
New Hampshire | $39,140 |
New Jersey | $35,060 |
New Mexico | $34,130 |
New York | $36,670 |
North Carolina | $39,370 |
North Dakota | $36,370 |
Ohio | $35,420 |
Oklahoma | $35,240 |
Oregon | $39,230 |
Pennsylvania | $38,380 |
Rhode Island | $41,640 |
South Carolina | $41,990 |
South Dakota | $35,020 |
Tennessee | $35,770 |
Texas | $35,310 |
Utah | $35,640 |
Vermont | $32,030 |
Virginia | $38,710 |
Washington | $39,530 |
West Virginia | $39,540 |
Wisconsin | $40,030 |
What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- SAP
How to Become an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator
Individuals working as a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator?

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
- Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators
Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |