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Extruder operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$47,720median pay per year, or $22.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,700lowest 10% earn less
  2. $40,45025th percentile
  3. $47,720median
  4. $56,84075th percentile
  5. $63,710top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

An extruder operator earned a median of $47,720 a year in May 2025, a bit below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs in this field are projected to grow only slightly, but openings still come up every year[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.7%[3]
Openings per year
5,400[4]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do extruder operators make?

The official BLS category is Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. In May 2025 its median pay was $47,720 a year, or $22.94 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $49,480 a year, or $23.79 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations was $50,980, so this job sits below that line[2].

Here is how annual pay spread out[5]:

Percentile Annual wage Source
10th[5] $36,700
25th[5] $40,450
50th (median)[1] $47,720
75th[5] $56,840
90th[5] $63,710

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,700, and the top 10% earned more than $63,710[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. Hourly, the 25th percentile was $19.45 and the 75th was $27.33[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Rhode Island had the highest state median at $61,350, followed by Vermont at $59,220 and North Carolina at $53,330[11]. Rhode Island and Vermont have few jobs, with 430 and 60[11].

Ohio had the most jobs at 5,020, then Texas at 4,070, California at 3,870, Indiana at 3,740 and Wisconsin at 3,190[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the top medians were Oshkosh-Neenah, WI at $64,760, Cedar Rapids, IA at $64,520 and Appleton, WI at $61,960[13]. The metro with the most jobs was Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN with 2,070 jobs and a $48,630 median[14].

Show median pay in 46 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Rhode Island[11]$61,350430
Vermont$59,22060
North Carolina$53,3302,950
Nebraska$52,360510
Minnesota$51,830900
New Jersey$51,180750
Pennsylvania$51,1502,960
Colorado$51,110240
Massachusetts$50,3701,490
Connecticut$50,2301,000
Wisconsin$50,2303,190
New Hampshire$50,210580
Arkansas$50,1501,270
Kentucky$50,0001,400
Oregon$49,650440
South Dakota$49,62050
Indiana$49,4203,740
South Carolina$49,0402,000
Utah$49,000410
New York$48,9301,400
Illinois$48,5202,750
Georgia$48,4102,560
Louisiana$47,930580
Alabama$47,6901,200
Tennessee$47,5502,980
Iowa$47,240450
Washington$47,2301,080
Maryland$46,730270
Maine$46,55090
Ohio$46,3405,020
Kansas$46,2701,140
Delaware$46,140470
Missouri$46,0501,040
Wyoming$45,95080
Texas$45,8904,070
California$45,8803,870
New Mexico$45,67050
Virginia$45,2201,490
Michigan$45,1401,800
Arizona$45,000910
West Virginia$44,510540
Mississippi$44,220550
Nevada$44,210260
Florida$39,7301,190
Oklahoma$38,820490
Idaho$34,700n/a

How to become an extruder operator

The path is short and does not require a degree[6].

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers a wider group of metal and plastic machine workers, so these training details describe that group[16]. It says simple machines can be learned in a few months, while more complex equipment can take up to a year[17]. It also says that certification can show competence and help with advancement[18].

With experience, operators often move into setup or machinery maintenance roles[19]. Some may reach supervisor jobs if they have good communication and analytical skills[20].

What extruder operators do

These workers set up, run or tend machines that push or pull plastic or metal into shapes such as tubes, rods, hoses, wire and bars[21]. Common tasks include[22]:

Workers report job titles such as extrusion line operator, extrusion press operator and setup operator[23].

Where they work

In the wider metal and plastic machine worker group, fabricated metal product manufacturing was the largest employer, with 25% of jobs in 2025[24]. Full-time work is the norm, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[25]. Evening and weekend shifts are also common because plants often run machines for long stretches[25].

For the wider group, the machines are powerful and fast, so safety rules matter. Operators usually wear protective gear such as safety glasses, earplugs and steel-toed boots[26]. In the wider group, workers must be able to stand for long periods and repeat tasks[27].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 60,900 to 61,400 jobs[3]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[28]. So this job is expected to grow more slowly than average.

Still, about 5,400 openings a year are projected[4]. Openings include jobs left when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[4]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.3% move to another occupation[29].

BLS names productivity change as a factor. Programmed machinery and better software and equipment let the same labor produce more output[30].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits someone who wants to start work without a degree or prior experience[6]. Pay is a little under the all-occupations median, and the middle half earned between $40,450 and $56,840[2][5]. For the wider group of metal and plastic machine workers, the work involves standing and being comfortable with machines[31][27]. Growth is slow, but yearly openings are steady[3][4]. Pay also varies by state, so check your own area[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an extruder operator make an hour?
The median was $22.94 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 25th percentile was $19.45 and the 75th was $27.33[9].
What education do you need to be an extruder operator?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with no related experience needed[6].
How long does it take to become an extruder operator?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. For the wider group, the profile says a few months for basic machines and up to a year for others[17][16].
Is extruder operator a growing job?
Only slowly. Employment is projected to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[3][28]. About 5,400 openings a year are projected[4].
What is the highest paying state for extruder operators?
Rhode Island had the highest median at $61,350, followed by Vermont at $59,220[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US was $47,720 per year and $22.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 60,900 to 61,400 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: about 5,400 openings for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $36,700, 25th percentile $40,450, 75th percentile $56,840, 90th percentile $63,710. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $49,480 per year and $23.79 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $17.65, 25th percentile $19.45, 75th percentile $27.33, 90th percentile $30.63. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs: Ohio 5,020; Texas 4,070; California 3,870; Indiana 3,740; Wisconsin 3,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (areas with at least 100 jobs): Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $64,760; Cedar Rapids, IA $64,520; Appleton, WI $61,960; Pittsburgh, PA $60,820; Greensboro-High Point, NC $60,390; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $57,370; Fort Wayne, IN $56,970; Manchester-Nashua, NH $56,820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,070 (median $48,630); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,790 (median $46,010); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,680 (median $48,570); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,460 (median $48,590); Cleveland, OH 1,120 (median $45,410); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,090 (median $42,650). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Metal and Plastic Machine Workers" covers Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET description of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 51-4021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech), Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Extrusion Press Operator, Machine Operator, Metal Inspector, Setup Operator. O*NET OnLine
  24. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Productivity change - share decreases as more processes can be performed by programmed machinery and improvements in software and equipment are expected to increase efficiency, allowing more output to be produced with the same amount of labor. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.