Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,890 | $17.26 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,350 | $22.29 |
| Mean (average) | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| 90th percentile | $63,910 | $30.73 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 24 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,100 | $38,310 | $70,340 | 930 | 5.34 |
| Arkansas | $47,770 | $36,500 | $56,110 | 90 | 0.86 |
| California | $45,290 | $38,890 | $77,690 | 330 | 0.22 |
| Florida | $43,520 | $39,080 | $60,640 | 620 | 0.76 |
| Georgia | $45,360 | $36,200 | $59,910 | 2,530 | 6.26 |
| Indiana | $57,200 | $42,470 | $59,730 | 390 | 1.47 |
| Iowa | $48,400 | $38,460 | $65,700 | 100 | 0.78 |
| Kansas | $50,320 | $38,790 | $74,840 | 320 | 2.7 |
| Kentucky | $33,330 | $31,260 | $50,730 | 120 | 0.7 |
| Maryland | $50,790 | $48,150 | $59,300 | ||
| Michigan | $49,180 | $46,920 | $56,830 | 180 | 0.5 |
| Minnesota | $52,600 | $48,270 | $65,470 | 410 | 1.69 |
| Missouri | $48,810 | $48,810 | $68,700 | 70 | 0.29 |
| Nebraska | $37,630 | $37,630 | $63,270 | 50 | 0.58 |
| New York | $44,120 | $36,740 | $65,760 | 210 | 0.26 |
| North Carolina | $40,090 | $34,650 | $59,240 | 1,980 | 4.85 |
| Ohio | $61,440 | $37,110 | $67,240 | 380 | 0.83 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,960 | $33,160 | $76,610 | 490 | 0.97 |
| South Carolina | $43,380 | $35,640 | $59,740 | 1,080 | 5.66 |
| Tennessee | $46,200 | $37,170 | $73,720 | 320 | 1.17 |
| Texas | $46,970 | $28,660 | $63,140 | 520 | 0.45 |
| Utah | $38,570 | $32,070 | $46,970 | 100 | 0.69 |
| Virginia | $40,770 | $36,630 | $55,700 | 540 | 1.59 |
| Wisconsin | $41,980 | $35,240 | $58,930 | 180 | 0.74 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.5%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Apache Hadoop YARN
- Camstar Manufacturing Execution System MES
- Operational databases
- Statistical process control SPC software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Extruder, Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Granulator, Hot End Operator, Pelletizer Operator, Pot Tipper, Spindraw Operator, Stretch Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers make?
The national median annual wage for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers was $46,350 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,890 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $63,910. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers to change -3.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Ohio ($61,440), Alabama ($60,100), Indiana ($57,200). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.