Find Trade Colleges
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers: Career Overview
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
The Daily Work of Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers Do?
Typical responsibilities of extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers cover:
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
- Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
- Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.
- Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators.
- Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
- Move controls to activate and adjust extruding and forming machines.
- Record details of machine malfunctions.
- Clean and maintain extruding and forming machines, using hand tools.
What Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers Need to Know
Effective extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Beamer Operator
- Beaming Machine Operator
- Blown Film Extrusion Operator
- Box Spinner
- Drawbench Operator
- Extruder
- Extruder Operator
- Extrusion Line Operator
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 363,848 extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +8.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $35,119 |
| Hourly median | $16.88 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $27,302 |
| 75th percentile | $42,935 |
| 90th percentile | $50,751 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $65,130 |
| Alabama | $58,150 |
| Minnesota | $51,310 |
| Maryland | $49,190 |
| Wisconsin | $48,700 |
| Kansas | $48,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,200 |
| Rhode Island | $47,490 |
| California | $47,310 |
| Missouri | $47,270 |
| Iowa | $46,870 |
| New York | $46,690 |
| Texas | $46,520 |
| Tennessee | $45,060 |
| Georgia | $44,930 |
| North Carolina | $44,660 |
| Michigan | $43,250 |
| South Carolina | $42,920 |
| West Virginia | $42,300 |
| Florida | $41,030 |
| Virginia | $39,760 |
| Nebraska | $36,450 |
| Kentucky | $32,250 |
| Arizona | $31,060 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $54,457 | 6.1% | 0.69 |
| Plains States | $48,012 | 4.1% | 1.81 |
| Middle Atlantic | $47,802 | 3.9% | 0.33 |
| New England | $47,490 | 1.6% | 4.36 |
| Far Western US | $47,310 | 2.5% | 0.19 |
| Southwest | $46,520 | 10.0% | 0.99 |
| Southeast | $44,667 | 71.8% | 5.70 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $78,960 | 140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $63,610 | 60 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $57,970 | 570 |
| Wilmington, NC | NC | $52,470 | 240 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | GA | $52,220 | 90 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $50,600 | 530 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | TN | $49,960 | 300 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $49,190 | 50 |
Top Industries Employing Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
The largest employers of extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 14,610 | $45,160 |
Below are examples of industries where extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Entry-level extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-6091.00 (Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.