Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC code 51-9041 · O*NET-SOC 51-9041.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$45,760
a year
Hourly
$22.00
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$47,260
$22.72 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,360 – $52,580
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$34,630 – $63,450
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
58,770
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $34,630
- $16.65/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,360
- $18.44/hr
- Median percentile
- $45,760
- $22.00/hr
- 75th percentile
- $52,580
- $25.28/hr
- 90th percentile
- $63,450
- $30.51/hr
What do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels.
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 78% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)78%
- Post-Secondary Certificate9%
- Some College Courses8%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.4%
Common questions
How much does an extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?
The national median is $45,760 a year. The full range runs from $34,630 at the 10th percentile to $63,450 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.7/5
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
- Engineering and Technology2.9/5
- Food Production2.8/5
- English Language2.8/5
- Public Safety and Security2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Social Perceptiveness.