Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median salary

$47,720

Average salary

$49,480

Employment

60,840

Projected growth

1.2% growth

Annual openings

6,500

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Do

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: Not available

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 2 of 5

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Job training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Production and Processingimportance 4.0/5
Mathematicsimportance 3.5/5
English Languageimportance 3.5/5
Administration and Managementimportance 2.8/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 2.5/5
Mechanicalimportance 2.5/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.3/5
Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 2.3/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment4.8/5
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.7/5
Frequency of Decision Making4.6/5
Spend Time Standing4.4/5
Time Pressure4.4/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic97% skill match
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic96% skill match
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders96% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic96% skill match
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders96% skill match
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood95% skill match
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders95% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators95% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Operations Monitoringimportance 3.5/5
Operation and Controlimportance 3.4/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.1/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5
Troubleshootingimportance 3.0/5
Time Managementimportance 2.9/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Stress Tolerance
Perseverance
Integrity

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeLow
ArtisticLow
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).