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Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Pennsylvania
Want to work as an Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Pennsylvania? Here’s what the data says. Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
What do Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Make in Pennsylvania?
For extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in Pennsylvania, the median annual wage is $47,670 per year (or roughly $22.92/hour).Annual wages span from $37,160 at the 10th percentile to $68,970 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| 25th percentile | $40,970 | $19.70 |
| Median (50th) | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| 75th percentile | $57,380 | $27.59 |
| 90th percentile | $68,970 | $33.16 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Pennsylvania relative to the national average — is 1.43, meaning that extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn a median of $67,252 per year ($32.33/hour), below the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 601,070 extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, approximately 3,660 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 860 extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The largest metro-area employers of extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 900 | $49,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 650 | $53,720 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 400 | $48,300 |
| Lancaster, PA | 360 | $46,420 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 270 | $50,880 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 220 | $46,200 |
| Erie, PA | 160 | $39,380 |
| Reading, PA | 150 | $53,980 |
| Williamsport, PA | 100 | $53,250 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 80 | $46,320 |
Top States for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Employment
The table below shows the states where the most extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 5,220 |
| California | 4,860 |
| North Carolina | 4,370 |
| Ohio | 4,150 |
| Tennessee | 3,790 |
| Indiana | 3,750 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,660 |
| Wisconsin | 2,890 |
| Georgia | 2,550 |
| South Carolina | 2,310 |
| New York | 1,980 |
| Alabama | 1,940 |
| Illinois | 1,900 |
| Massachusetts | 1,840 |
| Michigan | 1,800 |
| Kentucky | 1,540 |
| Florida | 1,440 |
| Missouri | 1,290 |
| Connecticut | 1,060 |
| Arkansas | 1,050 |
Highest-Paying States for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The highest-paying states for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $64,860 |
| Minnesota | $54,340 |
| Maryland | $53,190 |
| Vermont | $52,900 |
| North Carolina | $51,930 |
| South Carolina | $50,750 |
| Nebraska | $50,750 |
| Louisiana | $50,610 |
| Delaware | $50,410 |
| Arizona | $49,850 |
Skills
Top extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically:
- Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
- Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
- Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
- Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
- Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
- Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
- Clean work areas.
- Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
- Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
- Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
- Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
- Maintain an inventory of materials.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Careers similar to extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic include:
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also Known As
Core Extruder, Core Shaper, Draw Machine Operator, Drawbench Operator, Equipment Technician, Extruder Operator, Extruding Press Adjuster, Extruding Press Operator, Extrusion Machine Operator, Extrusion Operator, Extrusion Press Adjuster, Extrusion Press Operator, Floor Molder, Former, Forming Machine Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-4021.00
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