Occupation salary profile

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

SOC 51-9041 BLS OEWS May 2025

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. Excludes “Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders” (51-6042) and “Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-9196).

National median · BLS
$45,760
▲ +1.4% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$47,260
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
58,770
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$34,630
25th$38,360
Median (50th)$45,760
75th$52,580
90th — top pay$63,450

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Monthly—
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Daily—
Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

BLS projects employment of extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,200 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
58,300 → 59,200
+900 jobs
Projected change
+1.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
5,200
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operation and Control3.8
  • Operations Monitoring3.8
  • Monitoring3.4
  • Speaking3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Critical Thinking3.0
  • Quality Control Analysis3.0
  • Reading Comprehension3.0
  • Troubleshooting3.0
  • Complex Problem Solving2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Production and Processing3.7
  • Mechanical3.5
  • Computers and Electronics3.1
  • Mathematics2.9
  • Engineering and Technology2.9
  • Food Production2.8
  • English Language2.8
  • Public Safety and Security2.8
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordSAP softwareOperational databasesProduction scheduling software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 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.

About the job

What extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders do

  • 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.
Also called
Extruder OperatorExtrusion OperatorMachine OperatorPress OperatorGlass Forming Crew MemberTuber Operator
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Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.