Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Also called: Equipment Technician · Extruder Operator · Extrusion Operator · Extrusion Press Operator · Machine Operator · Metal Inspector
Median pay (national)
$46,980
$35,390–$62,470 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
65,700
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.2%
~6,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $62,470 versus $35,390 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $46,980 leaves roughly 33% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 6,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, Rhode Island pays the most for this role (median $64,860, +38% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $19,930 — a 225% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
- Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
Tools & technology
- SAP software
- Enterprise application integration EAI software
- Operational databases
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service