Production · Career brief

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

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$47,720

Below the middle on pay

2025 national median. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

0.7%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

5,400

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects essentially flat employment (0.7%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: BLS projects essentially flat employment (0.7%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

Before choosing, compare:Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic with another field Explore rankings in Production Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$47,720

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

0.7%employment growth5,400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

60,900

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (51-4021).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects essentially flat employment (0.7%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.
The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.
Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Controlling Machines and Processes4.7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.3
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.0
Getting Information4.0
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.0

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.7
Conventional4.3
Investigative2.2
Artistic1.4
Social1.1
Enterprising1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Production and Processing Mathematics Computers and Electronics Mechanical

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Take a supervised shop, maker, or trade class and finish one project while following its measurement, cleanup, and safety rules.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options