All About Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Occupation Description Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Daily Life Of an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator
- Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
- Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
- Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
- Clean work areas.
- Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
- Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
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Skills Needed to be an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator
When polled, Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
- Job Molder
- Extrusion Operator
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Line Patroller
- Lead Press Operator
Job Outlook for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
There were about 72,300 jobs for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 5,600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator are Utah, Georgia, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator Salary
Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make between $23,840 and $52,060 a year.

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Iowa, South Carolina, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $28,830 |
Arizona | $33,560 |
Arkansas | $35,230 |
California | $34,520 |
Colorado | $39,060 |
Connecticut | $42,960 |
Delaware | $38,540 |
Florida | $31,350 |
Georgia | $34,210 |
Idaho | $30,090 |
Illinois | $40,470 |
Indiana | $35,650 |
Iowa | $45,820 |
Kansas | $36,050 |
Kentucky | $37,550 |
Louisiana | $35,130 |
Maine | $38,330 |
Maryland | $35,500 |
Massachusetts | $39,300 |
Michigan | $32,040 |
Minnesota | $40,500 |
Mississippi | $30,250 |
Missouri | $35,630 |
Nebraska | $38,520 |
Nevada | $33,910 |
New Hampshire | $39,140 |
New Jersey | $35,060 |
New Mexico | $34,130 |
New York | $36,670 |
North Carolina | $39,370 |
North Dakota | $36,370 |
Ohio | $35,420 |
Oklahoma | $35,240 |
Oregon | $39,230 |
Pennsylvania | $38,380 |
Rhode Island | $41,640 |
South Carolina | $41,990 |
South Dakota | $35,020 |
Tennessee | $35,770 |
Texas | $35,310 |
Utah | $35,640 |
Vermont | $32,030 |
Virginia | $38,710 |
Washington | $39,530 |
West Virginia | $39,540 |
Wisconsin | $40,030 |
What Tools do Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- SAP
How do I Become an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator?
Individuals working as a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become an Extruding & Drawing Machine Operator?

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Sector

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
- Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators
Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
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