Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Career, Salary and Skills
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $45,760 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 58,770. Wage data is published for 169 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
51-9041.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$45,760
Hourly median
$22.00
Employment
58,770
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Operation and Control | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 2.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.12 |
Typical tasks
- Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
- Disassemble equipment to repair it or to replace parts, such as nozzles, punches, and filters.
- Swab molds with solutions to prevent products from sticking.
- Remove molds, mold components, and feeder tubes from machinery after production is complete.
- 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.
- Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
- Complete work tickets, and place them with products.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Operational databases
- Production scheduling software
- SAP software
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in TNMedian $41,970 · Employment 4,210
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in CAMedian $47,300 · Employment 4,210
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in OHMedian $47,070 · Employment 3,970
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in TXMedian $37,710 · Employment 3,420
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in NCMedian $43,050 · Employment 3,420
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in NYMedian $44,660 · Employment 3,260
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in INMedian $46,790 · Employment 3,150
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in SCMedian $51,620 · Employment 2,460
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in PAMedian $53,580 · Employment 2,450
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in New York, NYMedian $39,680 · Employment 2,420
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in ARMedian $48,320 · Employment 2,190
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in MIMedian $39,790 · Employment 1,970
Related careers
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $52,800
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNational median $42,660
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $49,030
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticNational median $46,170
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $51,610
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $46,550
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $47,720
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.