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Plastics Manufacturing
Amcor, Berry Global, Sealed Air
Home / All Jobs / Trades / Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
These workers set up and run machines that shape heated metal or plastic into wire, tubing, film, or other finished forms. The job stands out because it mixes machine setup, live adjustments, and hands-on inspection: you are constantly balancing output speed against product quality, and a small mistake can create scrap or shut down a run.
Also known as Extrusion OperatorExtrusion Machine OperatorPlastic Extrusion OperatorMetal Extrusion OperatorExtrusion Setup Operator
Median Salary
$46,980
Mean $48,170
U.S. Workforce
~66K
6.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.2%
66K to 66.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~66K workers, with a median annual pay of $46,980 and roughly 6.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 66 K in 2024 to 66.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Production Helper and can progress toward Production Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Machine Setup and Changeover Procedures, and Operation and Control, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Problem solving, and Judgment.
Core Responsibilities
- Choose the right die and machine parts for each production run so the line is set up for the correct product.
- Install dies, screws, and sizing parts before starting the machine.
- Set speed, temperature, air pressure, and vacuum controls so the material comes out at the right shape and size.
- Watch the line as it runs, then make adjustments when the product starts drifting out of spec.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Choose the right die and machine parts for each production run so the line is set up for the correct product.
02 Install dies, screws, and sizing parts before starting the machine.
03 Set speed, temperature, air pressure, and vacuum controls so the material comes out at the right shape and size.
04 Watch the line as it runs, then make adjustments when the product starts drifting out of spec.
05 Measure finished pieces for defects, length, weight, and consistency, and reel or coil them to the required size.
06 Swap dies between jobs, clean the work area, and make small repairs or fixes to keep the equipment running.
Industries That Hire
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Metal Products
Nucor, Alcoa, Steel Dynamics
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Packaging
Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings, Sonoco
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Automotive Parts
Magna, Lear, Aptiv
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Industrial Materials
3M, DuPont, Saint-Gobain
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma, and 84.69% of workers in the occupation have that level of education.
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Pay is fairly steady for a no-degree job, with a median annual wage of $46,980 and a mean of $48,170.
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There are about 6.5K annual openings, so retirements and turnover create regular hiring opportunities.
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Moderate-term on-the-job training means employers usually teach the exact dies, controls, and product specs they use.
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The work is concrete and immediate: when you adjust the machine correctly, you can see the quality improve right away.
Challenges
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Growth is basically flat at 1.2% from 2024 to 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding occupation.
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The work has a ceiling unless you move into supervision, maintenance, or quality roles, so long-term advancement can be limited.
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It is tied to factory locations and shift schedules, so remote work is rare and location flexibility is low.
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The job is physically repetitive, with cleaning, reel handling, and frequent changeovers that can wear on your body.
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Automation and process controls can reduce the need for some routine monitoring and setup work over time, which puts pressure on long-term demand.
Career Progression
Production Helper
0-1 years
$31K-$37K
You learn the plant layout, move materials, keep the area clean, and help operators with basic line support tasks.
Extrusion Machine Operator
1-3 years
$38K-$45K
You run the line under supervision, watch product flow, and make basic adjustments while learning different dies and materials.
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender THIS ROLE
2-5 years
$46K-$55K
You set up runs, change dies, inspect output, and troubleshoot quality problems on your own.
Lead Operator or Shift Lead
5-9 years
$56K-$68K
You coordinate changeovers, train newer workers, and handle the harder quality or equipment issues on the floor.
Production Supervisor
8-12 years
$69K-$86K
You oversee scheduling, output, staffing, and plant performance rather than operating one machine all day.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 84.69% of workers in this role.
Post-secondary certificate in manufacturing or industrial technology
A smaller but realistic route, used by 11.22% of workers in the education distribution.
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Many employers teach the specific machines, dies, and product standards after hiring, so formal experience is usually not required.
Less than a high school diploma
A small share of workers, 3.64%, entered with less than a high school diploma, but this is not the usual path.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 70%
Machine Setup and Changeover Procedures 68%
Operation and Control 68%
HMI and PLC Line Controls 66%
Quality Control Analysis 62%
Micrometers, Calipers & Gauges 62%
Troubleshooting and Minor Equipment Repairs 60%
Monitoring 62%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailProblem solvingJudgmentCommunication with supervisors and coworkersTeamworkStaying calm under pressure Job Outlook and Trends
+1.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
6.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 66K to 66.8 K over the next decade, representing 1.2% growth. Around 6.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.