Life As a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

Example of Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator Job 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

• Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
• Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
• Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
• Change dies on extruding machines according to production line changes.
• Maintain an inventory of materials.
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.

Things an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator Should Know How to Do

When polled, Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Types of Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

• Line Patroller
• Wire Drawing Machine Operator
• Wire Drawing Machine Tender
• Stretch Machine Operator
• Retort Press Operator

Is There Going to be Demand for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

There were about 72,300 jobs for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). 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.

Do Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?

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 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

Becoming an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator

What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work

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

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender might also be interested in the following careers:

• 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:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.