Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035 (about 900 more jobs), with about 5,200 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $45,760 a year ranks 650th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +1.5%
- Openings a year
- 5,200
- Median pay
- $45,760
- Pay rank
- 650th of 825
Is employment of extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders to rise 1.5% (about 900 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the -0.4% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 105 production occupations with a projection. That change ranks 523rd of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 58,300 |
| Employment, 2035 | 59,200 |
| Projected change | +1.5% |
| Openings a year | 5,200 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 58,300 jobs here differ from the 58,770 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 5,200 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 372nd most of 830 occupations. About 98% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 90 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders rank?
The median of $45,760 a year ranks 650th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS 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. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent.
- Typical on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | -3.3% | 1,100 | $46,350 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | -0.9% | 5,400 | $46,570 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | -3.6% | 9,000 | $50,270 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | +1.3% | 1,300 | $46,460 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | -8.3% | 1,900 | $50,140 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | -3.4% | 13,800 | $44,350 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | +4.1% | 41,400 | $43,220 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | -2.5% | 5,300 | $43,380 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.