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What is 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.

A Day in the Life of an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator

Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
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.

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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator?

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

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.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Wire Drawer
Extrusion Machine Operator
Equipment Technician
Lead Press Operator
Grid Caster

Job Demand for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

In the United States, there were 72,300 jobs for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,600 job openings in this field each year.

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 Average Salary

The average yearly salary of an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator ranges 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.

How much do Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in each U.S. state?

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?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
SAP

Becoming an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator

Education needed to be a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender:

How many years of work experience do I need?

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References:

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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