51 Series · SOC 51-9041

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

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$45,760
Median / year
+1.4%
2024→2025
$63,450
Top 10% earn
+2%
Growth '24–'34
58,770
Estimated US jobs

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $45,760 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $45,760, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,630 (10th percentile) to $63,450 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 58,770 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Maine ($57,990).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $45,760, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 21% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #66 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2034.

$45,760
Median annual wage
Top 79%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#66 of 105
in Production
1.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Maine at $57,990. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders moved from $35,480 in May 2019 to $45,760 in May 2025 (+29.0%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits +4.5 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (SOC 51-9041) has a national median of $45,760 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $34,630 to $63,450, and the published mean is $47,260. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 58,770 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 46 state or territory areas and 186 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $45,130 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $45,760 in May 2025, a rise of $630 (+1.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 5,200 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Maine pays the highest state median at $57,990, which is +27% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Modesto, CA at $88,940. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 58,770 jobs Median $45,760/yr

Median Salary

$45,760

per year

Median Hourly

$22.00/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$47,260

average

Employment

58,770

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$45,760 Bottom 21% higher than 21% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$45,760 · 21st percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at +2% growth and $45,760 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2% · Median annual wage: $45760
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at +2% growth and $45,760 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
  • Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $45760

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

5,200

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+1,100

57,300 (2024) → 58,400 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.8
Operation and Control 3.8
Monitoring 3.4
Speaking 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Troubleshooting 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Production and Processing 3.7
Mechanical 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.1
Mathematics 2.9
Engineering and Technology 2.9
Food Production 2.8
English Language 2.8
Public Safety and Security 2.8
Education and Training 2.7
Administration and Management 2.6

Key Tasks

  • Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
  • Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
  • Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
  • Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels.
  • Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
  • Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.
  • Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards.
  • Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
  • Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices.
  • Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$34,630
25th$38,360
Median$45,760
75th$52,580
90th$63,450

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$16.65
25th$18.44
Median$22.00
75th$25.28
90th$30.51

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $32,160National median - 2016: $32,510National median - 2017: $33,680National median - 2018: $35,120National median - 2019: $35,480National median - 2020: $36,560National median - 2021: $37,660National median - 2022: $39,480National median - 2023: $42,670National median - 2024: $45,130National median - 2025: $45,760$45,760
National median annual wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $32,160
2016 $32,510
2017 $33,680
2018 $35,120
2019 $35,480
2020 $36,560
2021 $37,660
2022 $39,480
2023 $42,670
2024 $45,130
2025 $45,760

2015 median

$32,160

2025 median

$45,760

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,280 (+29%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $32,160 First banked release 71,430
May 2016 $32,510 +1.1% 71,260
May 2017 $33,680 +3.6% 76,120
May 2018 $35,120 +4.3% 72,870
May 2019 $35,480 Classification break 71,850
May 2020 $36,560 +3.0% 63,730
May 2021 $37,660 +3.0% 56,570
May 2022 $39,480 +4.8% 58,740
May 2023 $42,670 +8.1% 57,080
May 2024 $45,130 +5.8% 57,310
May 2025 $45,760 +1.4% 58,770

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $32,160 in May 2015 to $45,760 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 71,850 in May 2019 to 58,770 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 46 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Maine $57,990 +27% above national
2 Pennsylvania $53,580 +17% above national
3 Vermont $52,340 +14% above national
4 Minnesota $52,070 +14% above national
5 South Carolina $51,620 +13% above national
6 West Virginia $50,690 +11% above national
7 Nevada $50,050 +9% above national
8 Virginia $49,390 +8% above national
9 Iowa $49,340 +8% above national
10 Colorado $49,100 +7% above national
11 Utah $49,100 +7% above national
12 Nebraska $48,760 +7% above national
13 Oregon $48,360 +6% above national
14 Arkansas $48,320 +6% above national
15 New Hampshire $47,730 +4% above national
16 Missouri $47,470 +4% above national
17 Illinois $47,370 +4% above national
18 California $47,300 +3% above national
19 Massachusetts $47,220 +3% above national
20 New Jersey $47,080 +3% above national
21 Ohio $47,070 +3% above national
22 Indiana $46,790 +2% above national
23 Maryland $46,640 +2% above national
24 Mississippi $46,560 +2% above national
25 Arizona $46,440 +1% above national
26 Wisconsin $46,370 +1% above national
27 North Dakota $46,220 +1% above national
28 Connecticut $46,090 +1% above national
29 Georgia $45,670 same as national
30 New York $44,660 2% below national
31 Washington $44,510 3% below national
32 Kansas $44,290 3% below national
33 Louisiana $44,200 3% below national
34 South Dakota $43,240 6% below national
35 North Carolina $43,050 6% below national
36 Oklahoma $42,180 8% below national
37 Tennessee $41,970 8% below national
38 Florida $39,800 13% below national
39 Michigan $39,790 13% below national
40 Rhode Island $39,230 14% below national
41 Alabama $38,650 16% below national
42 Idaho $38,580 16% below national
43 Texas $37,710 18% below national
44 New Mexico $36,710 20% below national
45 Kentucky $36,180 21% below national
46 Puerto Rico $23,330 49% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 123 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Modesto, CA $88,940 +94% above national
2 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $72,500 +58% above national
3 Lincoln, NE $61,820 +35% above national
4 Vallejo, CA $59,110 +29% above national
5 Terre Haute, IN $59,080 +29% above national
6 Duluth, MN-WI $57,910 +27% above national
7 St. Louis, MO-IL $56,320 +23% above national
8 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $55,940 +22% above national
9 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $55,780 +22% above national
10 Appleton, WI $54,630 +19% above national
11 Reading, PA $54,530 +19% above national
12 Stockton-Lodi, CA $54,200 +18% above national
13 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $52,560 +15% above national
14 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $52,340 +14% above national
15 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $51,830 +13% above national
16 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $51,670 +13% above national
17 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $51,360 +12% above national
18 Toledo, OH $51,250 +12% above national
19 Spartanburg, SC $51,110 +12% above national
20 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $50,940 +11% above national
21 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,430 +10% above national
22 Jackson, MS $50,370 +10% above national
23 Lancaster, PA $50,270 +10% above national
24 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $50,150 +10% above national
25 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $50,070 +9% above national
26 Vineland, NJ $49,550 +8% above national
27 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $49,280 +8% above national
28 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,130 +7% above national
29 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $49,100 +7% above national
30 Pittsburgh, PA $48,890 +7% above national
31 Worcester, MA $48,860 +7% above national
32 York-Hanover, PA $48,860 +7% above national
33 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $48,700 +6% above national
34 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $48,660 +6% above national
35 Syracuse, NY $48,440 +6% above national
36 Rochester, NY $48,420 +6% above national
37 Gettysburg, PA $48,250 +5% above national
38 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $48,120 +5% above national
39 Columbus, OH $47,830 +5% above national
40 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $47,730 +4% above national
41 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $47,600 +4% above national
42 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $47,500 +4% above national
43 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $47,410 +4% above national
44 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $47,360 +3% above national
45 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $47,300 +3% above national
46 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $47,270 +3% above national
47 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $47,220 +3% above national
48 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $47,150 +3% above national
49 Greensboro-High Point, NC $47,120 +3% above national
50 Eugene-Springfield, OR $47,070 +3% above national
51 Fort Wayne, IN $46,910 +3% above national
52 Madison, WI $46,900 +2% above national
53 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $46,870 +2% above national
54 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $46,710 +2% above national
55 Fresno, CA $46,470 +2% above national
56 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $46,440 +1% above national
57 Chattanooga, TN-GA $46,220 +1% above national
58 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $46,010 +1% above national
59 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $45,950 same as national
60 Lima, OH $45,920 same as national
61 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $45,890 same as national
62 Omaha, NE-IA $45,840 same as national
63 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $45,760 same as national
64 Wichita, KS $45,760 same as national
65 Knoxville, TN $45,750 same as national
66 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $45,690 same as national
67 Clarksville, TN-KY $45,670 same as national
68 Winchester, VA-WV $45,630 same as national
69 Winston-Salem, NC $45,600 same as national
70 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $45,330 1% below national
71 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $45,290 1% below national
72 Cleveland, OH $45,270 1% below national
73 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $45,270 1% below national
74 Akron, OH $45,220 1% below national
75 Birmingham, AL $45,140 1% below national
76 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $45,100 1% below national
77 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $44,830 2% below national
78 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $44,800 2% below national
79 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $44,660 2% below national
80 Manchester-Nashua, NH $44,210 3% below national
81 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $44,110 4% below national
82 Richmond, VA $43,800 4% below national
83 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $43,530 5% below national
84 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $43,280 5% below national
85 Decatur, AL $43,150 6% below national
86 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $42,970 6% below national
87 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $42,770 7% below national
88 Kansas City, MO-KS $42,700 7% below national
89 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $42,490 7% below national
90 St. Joseph, MO-KS $42,410 7% below national
91 Jackson, TN $42,320 8% below national
92 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $42,320 8% below national
93 Columbus, IN $41,890 8% below national
94 Canton-Massillon, OH $41,810 9% below national
95 Morristown, TN $41,810 9% below national
96 Jefferson City, MO $41,670 9% below national
97 Raleigh-Cary, NC $41,620 9% below national
98 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $41,070 10% below national
99 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $40,000 13% below national
100 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $39,680 13% below national
101 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $39,530 14% below national
102 El Centro, CA $39,270 14% below national
103 Rapid City, SD $38,970 15% below national
104 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $38,800 15% below national
105 Tulsa, OK $38,690 15% below national
106 Fort Smith, AR-OK $38,650 16% below national
107 Boise City, ID $38,580 16% below national
108 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $38,370 16% below national
109 Tuscaloosa, AL $38,370 16% below national
110 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $37,650 18% below national
111 Evansville, IN $37,480 18% below national
112 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $37,450 18% below national
113 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $37,210 19% below national
114 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $37,170 19% below national
115 Youngstown-Warren, OH $37,150 19% below national
116 Auburn-Opelika, AL $36,800 20% below national
117 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $36,170 21% below national
118 Oklahoma City, OK $35,990 21% below national
119 Longview, TX $35,210 23% below national
120 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $33,610 27% below national
121 Dalton, GA $33,130 28% below national
122 El Paso, TX $31,070 32% below national
123 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $23,330 49% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($45,760 here) and reported employment (58,770 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
The median annual salary for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $45,760 ($22.00/hour). The salary range spans from $34,630 at the 10th percentile to $63,450 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $45,760, Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay is higher than 21% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
Maine pays the highest median salary for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders at $57,990/year, which is +27% above the national median.
What education do Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders need?
BLS assigns Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders a good career?
Employment for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 5,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay vary by state?
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Maine at $57,990/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $23,330/year. BLS data covers 46 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Modesto, CA at $88,940/year. BLS reports a median for 123 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $52,580/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Maine leads at $57,990/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.