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

ManufacturingO*NET 51-9041.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$45,753

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+3.8%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

78.9% of the workforce

Employment
59.35K jobs

Growing to 61.59K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
  • Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
  • Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
  • Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
  • Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
  • Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards.
  • Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.
  • 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.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$34,625
25th percentile
$38,348
50th percentile
$45,753
75th percentile
$52,585
90th percentile
$63,474

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $45,753 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+3.8%average or slower
202559,353 jobs
2035 projected61,587 jobs

2,234 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
78.9%
Certificate
9.1%
Some college
7.8%
Master's or Professional degree
3.9%
Associate degree
0.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Extrusion
  • Lifting Ability
  • Machinery
  • General Mathematics
  • Housekeeping
  • Mechanical Aptitude
  • Machine Operation
  • Forklift Truck
  • Packaging And Labeling
  • Continuous Improvement Process
  • Tooling
  • Standard Operating Procedure
  • Plastics Extrusion
  • Good Manufacturing Practices
  • Safety Procedures
  • Hand Tools
  • Micrometer
  • Product Quality (QA/QC)
  • Calipers
  • Food Safety And Sanitation

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Extrusion Technicians205 postings
  2. 02Operators176 postings
  3. 03Extrusion Managers90 postings
  4. 04Extruder Operators63 postings
  5. 05Press Operators42 postings
  6. 06Palletizer Operators36 postings
  7. 07Extrusion Process Engineers24 postings
  8. 08Lead Operators22 postings
  9. 09Bakery Managers21 postings
  10. 10Folder Gluer Operators21 postings
  11. 11Shift Operators20 postings
  12. 12Laminator Operators18 postings
  13. 13Operator Assistants17 postings
  14. 14Coater Operators16 postings
  15. 15Equipment Operators16 postings
  16. 16Plastics Operators16 postings
  17. 17Operator Trainers15 postings
  18. 18Extrusion Engineers14 postings
  19. 19Set Up Operators14 postings
  20. 20Operations Team Managers13 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Amcor37 postings
  2. 02Southwire31 postings
  3. 03Aerotek23 postings
  4. 04The Sheridan Group22 postings
  5. 05Mohawk Industries19 postings
  6. 06Smurfit Westrock19 postings
  7. 07Pregis18 postings
  8. 08Sealed Air18 postings
  9. 09Adecco17 postings
  10. 10Daltile Corp16 postings
  11. 11Inteplast Group15 postings
  12. 12Novolex15 postings
  13. 13Charlotte Pipe And Foundry13 postings
  14. 14Applied Materials12 postings
  15. 15Trans Union Corporation12 postings
  16. 16Hydro11 postings
  17. 17ProAmpac's11 postings
  18. 18Advanced Digital Cable10 postings
  19. 19Hydro Extrusion10 postings
  20. 20ManpowerGroup10 postings

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