Production

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

12/100
#639 of 825
$45,760
median pay, U.S.
58,770
employed (2024)
+2.0%
growth, 2024–34
5,200
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders a good career?

It scores 12/100 and ranks #639 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($45,760 vs $61,390)
  • Slower-than-average projected growth (+2.0%)

What extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn between $38,360 and $52,580 a year.

Best-paying states

Maine statewide
$57,990
Pennsylvania statewide
$53,580
Vermont statewide
$52,340
Minnesota statewide
$52,070
South Carolina statewide
$51,620
West Virginia statewide
$50,690
Nevada statewide
$50,050
Virginia statewide
$49,390
Iowa statewide
$49,340
Colorado statewide
$49,100
$20k $50k $80k

Best-paying metros

01 Modesto, CA $88,940
02 Oshkosh, WI $72,500
03 Lincoln, NE $61,820
04 Vallejo, CA $59,110
05 Terre Haute, IN $59,080
06 Duluth, MN $57,910
07 St. Louis, MO $56,320
08 Gulfport, MS $55,940

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 4,210
02 Tennessee 4,210
03 Ohio 3,970
04 North Carolina 3,420
05 Texas 3,420
06 New York 3,260

Live extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders jobs

No live extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders openings will appear here — each shown against the $45,760 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

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How to become an extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $48,570 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $58,040 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $48,990 median
Questions about becoming a extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender
How much do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders make?

The national median wage is $45,760 a year, with the middle half earning between $38,360 and $52,580 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 12 of 100 and ranks #639 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +2.0% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn the most?

Among states, Maine pays the highest median ($57,990). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →