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

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $46,350 Median per year · $22.29/hr Most earn $35,890–$63,910

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
  • Observe flow of finish across finish rollers, and turn valves to adjust flow to specifications.
  • Record details of machine malfunctions.
  • Start metering pumps and observe operation of machines and equipment to ensure continuous flow of filaments extruded through spinnerettes and to detect processing defects.
  • Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
  • Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Textile mills30.8%
  • Chemical manufacturing24.6%
  • Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing18.7%
  • Plastics product manufacturing3.9%
  • Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is an entry-level job. You can often start with a high school diploma, and many people first spend about 6 months to 1 year in other factory or production work before moving into it.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build math, science, and shop skills that help you read gauges, measurements, and machine settings.

  2. Production Worker

    6 months to 1 year

    Work on a factory floor to learn safety rules, how plants run, and how to follow production procedures and quality checks.

  3. Synthetic and Glass Fiber Extruding Machine Operator

    Ongoing, with on-the-job training

    Set up, run, and tend machines that extrude and form synthetic or glass fibers, learning the process hands-on from experienced workers.

Where it can lead

  1. Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter

    1-2 years of experience first

    You take on more responsibility for setting up machines, adjusting them for each run, and fixing problems, which usually requires strong mechanical skills and reliable work habits.

  2. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead a team of machine operators, schedule work, and track output and quality, which takes good communication and a solid record on the floor.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsAlgebra, geometry, and physics help you understand how heat, pressure, and speed affect materials in extrusion machines.
  • Take shop or industrial technology classesHands-on experience with tools and machines builds comfort around equipment and basic mechanical thinking.
  • Get a part-time job at a store or warehouseWorking as a team, following procedures, and showing up on time are skills every factory employer values.
  • Join a robotics or engineering clubBuilding and troubleshooting machines teaches problem-solving and teamwork in a way that transfers to production work.
  • Volunteer or ask about local manufacturing jobsTalking with workers at nearby plants or doing a school career day visit shows you what the job is really like.

In college

  • Take chemistry or materials science coursesUnderstanding polymers, fibers, and how materials behave when heated or stretched directly supports work with extrusion machines.
  • Get a campus job or internship at a manufacturing siteHands-on production experience, even part-time, gives you the 6 months to 1 year of background employers often look for.
  • Pursue a certificate in industrial maintenance or manufacturing technologyCommunity colleges and technical programs often offer short certificates that show you can work safely with industrial machines.
  • Join a engineering or technology student clubClubs teach teamwork, troubleshooting, and project management, which all help you move up from operator to setter or supervisor.
  • Learn basic safety and quality certificationsSafety training and quality-control knowledge make you a stronger candidate for plant jobs and show employers you take the work seriously.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask about factory tours or job shadowing at local plants that make plastics, textiles, or composites, so you can see the machines before you apply.
  • Show that you are dependable: good attendance, safety awareness, and willingness to learn are what hiring managers look for in entry-level plant jobs.
  • Get comfortable with basic math and measurement, since operators often check temperatures, speeds, and dimensions and record results.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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