Careers / Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$46,350
United States, 2025
Employment
12,850
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
- O*NET code
- 51-6091.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Typical tasks
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
- Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
- Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.
- Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators.
- Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
- Move controls to activate and adjust extruding and forming machines.
- Record details of machine malfunctions.
- Clean and maintain extruding and forming machines, using hand tools.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$35,890
25th percentile
$39,360
75th percentile
$57,280
90th percentile
$63,910
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring4.0
- Operation and Control3.8
- Monitoring3.5
- Coordination3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 10 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
10
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport, TN | $71,610 | 100 | 2025 |
| Mobile, AL | $63,900 | 130 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $63,760 | 80 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | $61,440 | 70 | 2025 |
| OH | $61,440 | 380 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $61,040 | 70 | 2025 |
| AL | $60,100 | 930 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | $59,330 | 220 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,980 | 590 | 2025 |
| IN | $57,200 | 390 | 2025 |
| PA | $55,960 | 490 | 2025 |
| Athens, GA | $53,970 | 80 | 2025 |
| MN | $52,600 | 410 | 2025 |
| Cleveland, OH | $51,490 | 50 | 2025 |
| MD | $50,790 | — | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $50,790 | — | 2025 |
| KS | $50,320 | 320 | 2025 |
| MI | $49,180 | 180 | 2025 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $48,900 | 200 | 2025 |
| MO | $48,810 | 70 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.