Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $45,760/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: +2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 5,200 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.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The median pay for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $45,760 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Employment for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to change +2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
About 5,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.