Production
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech), Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator
US median pay
$47,720
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
5,400
60,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
- Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
- Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
- Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
- Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
- Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
- Maintain an inventory of materials.
- Clean work areas.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.9/5
- Operation and Control3.8/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Repairing3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.9/5
- Mechanical3.8/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Education and Training3.0/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.