The median pay for Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers is $46,350 a year ($22.29/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 3.3% through 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-6091
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,350a year, or $22.29/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $64K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,10013,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202513.5K
- Projected 203513K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 13.5K Projected 2035 13K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school19.4%
- High school74.1%
- Certificate6.5%
Highest education held by extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers Segment Value Less than high school 19.4% High school 74.1% Certificate 6.5%
Also advertised as: Extruder, Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Granulator, Hot End Operator.
Pay
How much do Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers make?
Every extruding and forming machine setter, operator, and tender, synthetic and glass fiber in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,350
Middle half earn $39,360 to $57,280
- 10th
- $35,890
- 25th
- $39,360
- 75th
- $57,280
- 90th
- $63,910
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,890 |
| 25th | $39,360 |
| Median | $46,350 |
| 75th | $57,280 |
| 90th | $63,910 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,350
- Median hourly wage
- $22.29/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $48,580
- People employed
- 12,850
Versus all US occupations
At $46,350, Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers earn 9% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,630 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 3% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $63,910 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,890, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 14% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Ohio posts the highest raw median ($61,440), but once local prices are taken into account Alabama leads at $67,663 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ohio | $61,440 | $66,225 | 380 |
| 2Alabama | $60,100 | $67,663 | 930 |
| 3Indiana | $57,200 | $61,289 | 390 |
| 4Pennsylvania | $55,960 | $57,353 | 490 |
| 5Minnesota | $52,600 | $53,335 | 410 |
| 6Maryland | $50,790 | $48,390 | N/A |
| 7Kansas | $50,320 | $55,869 | 320 |
| 8Michigan | $49,180 | $51,114 | 180 |
| 9Missouri | $48,810 | $53,745 | 70 |
| 10Iowa | $48,400 | $55,149 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | −3.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers to change -3.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 400 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,100 openings are projected each year, 8.1% of the 13,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)74.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma19.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 74.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 19.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
Day-to-day tasks
- Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
- Record details of machine malfunctions.
- 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.
- Move controls to activate and adjust extruding and forming machines.
- Clean and maintain extruding and forming machines, using hand tools.
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
- Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.5
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Writing2.6
- Learning Strategies2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring4.0
- Operation and Control3.8
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Troubleshooting2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base management system software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Industrial control software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional4.0
- Investigative2.2
- Enterprising1.4
- Artistic1.3
- Social1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber$46,350
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber | $46,350 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber appears on
Questions
Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber: frequently asked questions
How much do Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers make?
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers earn a median of $46,350 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.29/hr. The middle half earn between $39,360 and $57,280. The top 10% earn $63,910 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 74.1% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 400 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass. A core O*NET task: press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers the most?
The highest state medians for Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers are Ohio ($61,440), Alabama ($60,100), Indiana ($57,200) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Alabama moves to the top at $67,663.
What personality type suits an Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber?
O*NET scores Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.