Description

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.

Interests

Realistic
Conventional

Learn More about Interests

Work Values

Support
Independence
Relationships

Learn More about Work Values

Work Styles

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cooperation
Initiative
Self-Control

Learn More about Work Styles

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.
Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.

Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes
Getting Information
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Detailed Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software
Electronic mail software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Office suite software
Word processing software

Skills

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Speaking
Active Listening

Knowledge

Production and Processing
Mechanical
Computers and Electronics

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

These are the certification(s) applicable to Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Certificate name

Metalforming Level I

Certifying Organization

National Institute for Metalworking Skills

Type

Core

Certificate name	Certifying Organization	Type
Metalforming Level I	National Institute for Metalworking Skills	Core

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income Percentile	Income
Low (10%)	$NaN
Median (50%)	$NaN
High (90%)	$NaN

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–7 years), to senior level (8+ years).

Experience	Income
Entry Level	$50,000
Mid Level	$100,000
Senior Level	$150,000

Employability

There are currently 57,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 58,700 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 3%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of 3%

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$47,040

Projected Job Growth

-8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

RealisticConventional

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$38,870

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

RealisticConventional

Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

Median Annual Income

$44,030

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.

RealisticConventional

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

Median Annual Income

$38,260

Projected Job Growth

-2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.

RealisticConventional

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$44,510

Projected Job Growth

-1 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

RealisticConventional

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$44,310

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

RealisticConventional

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$38,330

Projected Job Growth

+7 %

Career Cluster(s)

Supply Chain & Transportation

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

RealisticConventional

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$43,540

Projected Job Growth

-1 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.

RealisticConventional

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$47,250

Projected Job Growth

-13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

RealisticConventional

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Median Annual Income

$39,250

Projected Job Growth

-13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.

RealisticConventional

The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), with ONET® being a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA; CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).