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Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Massachusetts

Considering working as an Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Massachusetts? Below are the key facts. 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. Excludes “Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders” (51-6042) and “Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-9196).

What do Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make in Massachusetts?

For a extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders working in Massachusetts, wages run about $45,600 per year (or roughly $21.92/hour).Earnings range from $36,900 at the 10th percentile to $54,540 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$36,900	$17.74
25th percentile	$39,120	$18.81
Median (50th)	$45,600	$21.92
75th percentile	$49,740	$23.92
90th percentile	$54,540	$26.22

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Massachusetts relative to the national average — is 0.88, meaning fewer extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn a median of $64,701 per year ($31.11/hour), lower than the Massachusetts median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 319,449 extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S.. In Massachusetts alone, approximately 1,190 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 790 extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders.

Top Massachusetts Metros for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

The largest metro-area employers of extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in Massachusetts.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1,020	$46,080
Worcester, MA	130	$43,730
Springfield, MA	60	$46,530

Top States for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Employment

The table below shows the states where the most extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders work.

State	Number Employed
Ohio	4,700
California	4,480
Tennessee	3,720
New York	3,420
Texas	3,170
Indiana	2,880
North Carolina	2,680
Pennsylvania	2,550
Michigan	2,360
Illinois	1,860
New Jersey	1,820
Virginia	1,680
Missouri	1,640
Arkansas	1,570
South Carolina	1,560
Wisconsin	1,510
Kentucky	1,470
Alabama	1,320
Georgia	1,300
Massachusetts	1,190

Highest-Paying States for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Where extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn the most: extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders.

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

Skills

Key extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders typically:

• 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.
• Turn controls to adjust machine functions, such as regulating air pressure, creating vacuums, and adjusting coolant flow.
• Clean dies, arbors, compression chambers, and molds, using swabs, sponges, or air hoses.
• Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes.
• Move materials, supplies, components, and finished products between storage and work areas, using work aids such as racks, hoists, and handtrucks.

Work Activities

• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Getting Information
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Processing Information
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Working with Computers

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Other careers like extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders include:

• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• 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

Also Known As

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, Bag Builder, Bailer, Bailing Machine Operator, Baler, Baler Operator, Baling Machine Operator, Bark Press 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: 51-9041.00