Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Median pay: $47,720/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +1.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 6,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
The median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $47,720 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Employment for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
About 6,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.