Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers Salary
Synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. earned a median of $46,350 a year ($22.29 an hour) and a mean of $48,580 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median is higher than 23% of the 825 occupations with a published median.
BLS publishes one figure for the whole occupation, not by specialty, experience or employer; Entry-Level vs. Experienced Pay explains how to read the percentile band.
- Median annual
- $46,350
- Median hourly
- $22.29
- Mean annual
- $48,580
- Jobs on record
- 12,850
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
What do the 24 states with a published median pay synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Among the 24 states where BLS published a median, Ohio is highest at $61,440, +33% against the national median of $46,350.
Synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders are most concentrated in Georgia, at 0.52 of every 1,000 jobs, a location quotient of 6.26, which means the occupation's share of jobs there is 6.26 times its national share. Among metro areas the highest location quotient is 158.87, in Dalton, GA.
- $33,330 to $40,090
- $40,770 to $44,120
- $45,290 to $47,770
- $48,400 to $50,790
- $52,600 to $61,440
- Not published
Territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) are in the table below.
| State | Median | Hourly | Against U.S. | Price-adjusted | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $61,440 | $29.54 | +33% | $66,225 | 380 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| Alabama | $60,100 | $28.89 | +30% | $67,663 | 930 | 0.44 | 5.34 |
| Indiana | $57,200 | $27.50 | +23% | $61,289 | 390 | 0.12 | 1.47 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,960 | $26.90 | +21% | $57,353 | 490 | 0.08 | 0.97 |
| Minnesota | $52,600 | $25.29 | +13% | $53,335 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.69 |
| Maryland | $50,790 | $24.42 | +10% | $48,390 | |||
| Kansas | $50,320 | $24.19 | +9% | $55,869 | 320 | 0.22 | 2.70 |
| Michigan | $49,180 | $23.64 | +6% | $51,114 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.50 |
| Missouri | $48,810 | $23.46 | +5% | $53,745 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| Iowa | $48,400 | $23.27 | +4% | $55,149 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| Arkansas | $47,770 | $22.97 | +3% | $54,948 | 90 | 0.07 | 0.86 |
| Texas | $46,970 | $22.58 | +1% | $48,394 | 520 | 0.04 | 0.45 |
| Tennessee | $46,200 | $22.21 | 0% | $50,288 | 320 | 0.10 | 1.17 |
| Georgia | $45,360 | $21.81 | -2% | $47,106 | 2,530 | 0.52 | 6.26 |
| California | $45,290 | $21.77 | -2% | $40,905 | 330 | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| New York | $44,120 | $21.21 | -5% | $40,882 | 210 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| Florida | $43,520 | $20.92 | -6% | $42,083 | 620 | 0.06 | 0.76 |
| South Carolina | $43,380 | $20.85 | -6% | $46,272 | 1,080 | 0.47 | 5.66 |
| Wisconsin | $41,980 | $20.18 | -9% | $44,614 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| Virginia | $40,770 | $19.60 | -12% | $40,325 | 540 | 0.13 | 1.59 |
| North Carolina | $40,090 | $19.27 | -14% | $42,502 | 1,980 | 0.40 | 4.85 |
| Utah | $38,570 | $18.55 | -17% | $39,013 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.69 |
| Nebraska | $37,630 | $18.09 | -19% | $41,763 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| Kentucky | $33,330 | $16.03 | -28% | $36,968 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.70 |
| Alaska | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Arizona | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Colorado | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Connecticut | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Delaware | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| District of Columbia | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Guam | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Hawaii | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Idaho | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Illinois | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Louisiana | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Maine | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Massachusetts | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Mississippi | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Montana | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Nevada | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| New Hampshire | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| New Jersey | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| New Mexico | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| North Dakota | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Oklahoma | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Oregon | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Puerto Rico | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Rhode Island | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| South Dakota | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Vermont | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Virgin Islands | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Washington | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| West Virginia | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Wyoming | BLS did not publish a figure |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. A location quotient above 1 means the job is a larger share of local employment than of U.S. employment. BLS does not publish a figure where the sample is too small.
What is pay for synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders after cost of living?
Among the 24 states where BLS published a median, Alabama is highest for synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders after cost of living: its $60,100 median is worth $67,663 a year at average U.S. prices (May 2025 BLS median adjusted by BEA price parities), ahead of Ohio at $66,225 and Indiana at $61,289.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The price-adjusted figure divides a state's median by its price level.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $71,610 | 100 |
| Mobile, AL | $63,900 | 130 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,760 | 80 |
| Columbus, OH | $61,440 | 70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,040 | 70 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,330 | 220 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $58,980 | 590 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $53,970 | 80 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,610 | 60 |
| Cleveland, OH | $51,490 | 50 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan file, May 2025.
Has pay for synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders kept up with prices?
Yes: the median for synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders rose 4.0% after inflation from 2015 to 2025, from $44,582 to $46,350 in May 2025 dollars (BLS OEWS, adjusted with CPI-U). Real pay was below its 2015 level in 2017 and 2018 and 2022, with a low of $43,699 in 2018. Before inflation, the median went from $32,980 to $46,350.
| Year | Median as published | In May 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $32,980 | $44,582 |
| 2016 | $34,240 | $45,819 |
| 2017 | $33,470 | $43,964 |
| 2018 | $34,200 | $43,699 |
| 2019 | $36,110 | $45,328 |
| 2020 | $37,160 | $46,591 |
| 2021 | $37,550 | $44,841 |
| 2022 | $39,860 | $43,838 |
| 2023 | $44,030 | $46,540 |
| 2024 | $44,980 | $46,039 |
| 2025 | $46,350 | $46,350 |
Source: BLS OEWS national files, 2015 to 2025; adjusted with CPI-U for May of each year (BLS, via FRED). Occupation definitions changed in 2018 and 2021, so a code's earliest years can cover a slightly different job.
Which industries employ synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders?
| Industry | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $45,460 | 3,300 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $57,200 | 2,500 |
| Fabric Mills | $40,090 | 2,330 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | $43,380 | 1,650 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $44,370 | 530 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $59,910 | 500 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | $45,610 | 270 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $53,480 | 200 |
Highest-paying industries with at least 1,000 such jobs: Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing ($57,200); Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) ($45,460); Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills ($43,380).
Source: BLS OEWS research estimates by 4-digit industry, May 2025.
What is the job outlook?
BLS projects employment of synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders to shrink 3.3% from 2025 to 2035 (about 400 fewer jobs), with about 1,100 openings a year from growth and from workers leaving; its 2025 base of 13,500 jobs is wider than the 12,850 OEWS jobs above because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed. The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
What is the fatal injury rate for production occupations?
BLS publishes no rate for synthetic and glass fibers extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders alone; production occupations had a fatal injury rate of 3.1 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2024 (margin of error 0.09), against 3.3 for all workers.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, hours-based rates, 2024, published February 19, 2026. Every occupation's rate.
What the work involves
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
- Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
- Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.
- Observe flow of finish across finish rollers, and turn valves to adjust flow to specifications.
- Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators.
- Remove polymer deposits from spinnerettes and equipment, using silicone spray, brass chisels, and bronze-wool pads.
Source: O*NET 30.3 task statements for SOC 51-6091.
Compare with related jobs
Related occupations from O*NET, same occupation group first; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Sources used on this page
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: pay and jobs by occupation, state and metro area. bls.gov/oes
- Regional Price Parities, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: the price-adjusted state column. bea.gov
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: the inflation adjustment of past pay. bls.gov/cpi
- Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: projected growth and openings. bls.gov/emp
- Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: the fatal injury rate. bls.gov/iif
- O*NET 30.3, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor: duties and related occupations. dol.gov