Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. is $45,760 ($22.00 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $45,760
- Mean annual wage
- $47,260
- Median hourly wage
- $22.00
- Employment
- 58,770
58,770 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| 25th percentile | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| Median (50th) | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 75th percentile | $52,580 | $25.28 |
| 90th percentile | $63,450 | $30.51 |
Highest-paying states for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $57,990 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,580 | 2,450 |
| Vermont | $52,340 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $52,070 | 560 |
| South Carolina | $51,620 | 2,460 |
| West Virginia | $50,690 | 180 |
| Nevada | $50,050 | — |
| Virginia | $49,390 | 1,810 |
| Iowa | $49,340 | 500 |
| Colorado | $49,100 | 280 |
Lowest-paying states
- Kentucky: $36,180 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $36,710 median annual wage
- Texas: $37,710 median annual wage
- Idaho: $38,580 median annual wage
- Alabama: $38,650 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.
Typical tasks
- Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.
- Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices.
- Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
- Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes.
- Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels.
- Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 16.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 50.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.1% |
| Associate's degree | 4.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.4% |
| Master's degree | 1.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.