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Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Career Overview
Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.
The Daily Work of Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Perform?
The core tasks performed by extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders span:
- Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
- Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
- Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
- Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.
- Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards.
- Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
- Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Abrasive Wheel Molder
- Air Bag Curer
- Alfalfa Dehydrator Operator
- Arch Cushion Press Operator
- Artificial Log Machine Operator
- Auger Press Operator
- Automatic Lump Making Machine Tender
- Bag Bailer
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 319,449 extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $64,701 |
| Hourly median | $31.11 |
| 10th percentile | $45,184 |
| 25th percentile | $54,942 |
| 75th percentile | $74,459 |
| 90th percentile | $84,217 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Montana | $58,060 |
| Maine | $52,960 |
| Colorado | $50,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,810 |
| Vermont | $50,700 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 |
| South Carolina | $49,730 |
| Idaho | $49,150 |
| West Virginia | $49,050 |
| Virginia | $48,980 |
| Louisiana | $48,950 |
| Connecticut | $48,010 |
| Oregon | $47,890 |
| Nevada | $47,820 |
| Missouri | $47,760 |
| New Jersey | $47,720 |
| Illinois | $47,680 |
| Washington | $47,570 |
| Iowa | $47,440 |
| New York | $46,930 |
| Nebraska | $46,770 |
| California | $46,590 |
| New Hampshire | $46,500 |
| Indiana | $46,250 |
| North Carolina | $46,210 |
| Georgia | $45,860 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Maryland | $45,580 |
| Kansas | $45,370 |
| Arizona | $45,020 |
| Ohio | $44,790 |
| Arkansas | $44,780 |
| North Dakota | $44,020 |
| Michigan | $43,570 |
| Oklahoma | $43,270 |
| Tennessee | $42,670 |
| South Dakota | $42,640 |
| Wisconsin | $41,020 |
| Florida | $40,860 |
| Kentucky | $40,710 |
| Mississippi | $40,190 |
| Alabama | $39,830 |
| Utah | $38,940 |
| Texas | $37,100 |
| New Mexico | $35,520 |
| Rhode Island | $35,180 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,600 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $48,260 | 14.2% | 1.03 |
| Plains States | $47,009 | 8.3% | 1.48 |
| Far Western US | $46,839 | 10.0% | 0.67 |
| New England | $46,555 | 4.0% | 1.08 |
| Great Lakes | $44,865 | 23.2% | 1.86 |
| Southeast | $44,530 | 29.7% | 1.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,763 | 2.0% | 0.93 |
| Southwest | $38,869 | 7.9% | 0.69 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | CA | $86,150 | 160 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | AL | $67,540 | 140 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $58,290 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $57,580 | 870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $57,460 | 270 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | MI | $56,870 | 50 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $55,660 | 120 |
| Sandusky, OH | OH | $55,070 | 60 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 53,230 | $45,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,790 | $34,630 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,730 | $38,860 |
| Retail Trade | 160 | $36,800 |
| Construction | 110 | $50,050 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 60 | $40,160 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 60 | $43,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 50 | $45,100 |
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:
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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How to Become Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Typical extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders 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)
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
Sources
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: 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders).
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