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Extruding, forming, pressing and compacting machine operators: pay, outlook and how to start

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,760median pay per year, or $22.00 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,630lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,36025th percentile
  3. $45,760median
  4. $52,58075th percentile
  5. $63,450top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for this group of machine setters, operators and tenders was $45,760 a year in May 2025, a bit below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 1.5% by 2035, with about 5,200 openings a year[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.5%[3]
Openings per year
5,200[4]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do extruding, forming, pressing and compacting machine workers make?

BLS groups these workers under the title Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. The median wage was $45,760 a year, or $22.00 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $47,260 a year, or $22.72 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Here is how pay spread across the group:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][8] $34,630 $16.65
25th[5][8] $38,360 $18.44
50th (median)[1] $45,760 $22.00
75th[5][8] $52,580 $25.28
90th[5][8] $63,450 $30.51

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,630[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages and not a starting salary[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or benefit costs[10]. About 58,770 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Maine had the highest state median at $57,990[12]. Pennsylvania followed at $53,580 and Vermont at $52,340[12]. Kentucky was last in the list at $36,180[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Modesto, CA had the highest median at $88,940[13]. Oshkosh-Neenah, WI came next at $72,500, then Lincoln, NE at $61,820[13].

California and Tennessee each had 4,210 jobs, the most among states[14]. Ohio had 3,970[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most metro jobs at 2,420, with a median of $39,680[15].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Maine[12]$57,990140
Pennsylvania$53,5802,450
Vermont$52,340160
Minnesota$52,070560
South Carolina$51,6202,460
West Virginia$50,690180
Nevada$50,050n/a
Virginia$49,3901,810
Iowa$49,340500
Colorado$49,100280
Utah$49,100250
Nebraska$48,760750
Oregon$48,360370
Arkansas$48,3202,190
New Hampshire$47,730410
Missouri$47,4701,040
Illinois$47,3701,690
California$47,3004,210
Massachusetts$47,220950
New Jersey$47,0801,880
Ohio$47,0703,970
Indiana$46,7903,150
Maryland$46,640280
Mississippi$46,560660
Arizona$46,440700
Wisconsin$46,3701,730
North Dakota$46,220270
Connecticut$46,090240
Georgia$45,6701,150
New York$44,6603,260
Washington$44,510750
Kansas$44,290600
Louisiana$44,200200
South Dakota$43,240610
North Carolina$43,0503,420
Oklahoma$42,1801,310
Tennessee$41,9704,210
Florida$39,800780
Michigan$39,7901,970
Rhode Island$39,23080
Alabama$38,6501,510
Idaho$38,580210
Texas$37,7103,420
New Mexico$36,71080
Kentucky$36,1801,690

How to get started in this work

In an ONET survey of 30 workers, 78% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 9% said a post-secondary certificate and 8% said some college courses[16]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means little to some preparation is needed[17].

What these workers do

These workers set up, run or tend machines that shape products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick and tile[18]. Typical tasks include:

Sample job titles from workers include extruder operator, press operator and tuber operator[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 58,300 to 59,200 jobs[3]. That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[21]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[3].

About 5,200 openings are projected each year[4]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch jobs, not only new ones[4]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.3% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with a low barrier to entry. A high school diploma and on-the-job training are typical, and no related experience is[6]. Pay was a little under the all-occupation median, and the 90th percentile was $63,450[1][5][2]. Growth is modest at 1.5%[3]. Pay differs by state, so look at your own state's median[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much do extruding and forming machine operators make an hour?
The median was $22.00 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $22.72[1][7].
What education do you need for this job?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for entry, with moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Is this job in demand?
BLS projects 1.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, and about 5,200 openings a year[3][21][4].
What is the highest paying state for these workers?
Maine had the highest median at $57,990, followed by Pennsylvania at $53,580[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US was $45,760 per year and $22.00 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, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 58,300 to 59,200 jobs (a change of +900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: about 5,200 openings for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $34,630, 25th percentile $38,360, 75th percentile $52,580, 90th percentile $63,450. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 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, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $47,260 per year and $22.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $16.65, 25th percentile $18.44, 75th percentile $25.28, 90th percentile $30.51. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  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. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 58,770 people were employed as Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Modesto, CA $88,940; Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $72,500; Lincoln, NE $61,820; Vallejo, CA $59,110; Terre Haute, IN $59,080; St. Louis, MO-IL $56,320; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $55,780; Reading, PA $54,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: California 4,210; Tennessee 4,210; Ohio 3,970; North Carolina 3,420; Texas 3,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,420 (median $39,680); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,540 (median $46,710); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,130 (median $39,530); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,120 (median $47,150); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 850 (median $47,730); Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 810 (median $45,760). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 51-9041.00 survey of workers (30 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 78%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 51-9041.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 51-9041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Extruder Operator, Extrusion Operator, Glass Forming Crew Member, Machine Operator, Press Operator, Tuber Operator. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. 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.

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.