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

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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.

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.

Moderate 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 $45,760 Median per year · $22.00/hr Most earn $34,630–$63,450

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices.
  • Measure, mix, cut, shape, soften, and join materials and ingredients, such as powder, cornmeal, or rubber to prepare them for machine processing.
  • Measure, mix, cut, shape, soften, and join materials and ingredients, such as powder, cornmeal, or rubber to prepare them for machine processing.
  • Remove materials or products from molds or from extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
  • Disassemble equipment to repair it or to replace parts, such as nozzles, punches, and filters.
  • Clean dies, arbors, compression chambers, and molds, using swabs, sponges, or air hoses.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 5,200 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

  • Rubber product manufacturing30.8%
  • Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing19.1%
  • Plastics product manufacturing10.9%
  • Converted paper product manufacturing4.0%
  • Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing4.0%

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. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn on the job, and they usually build up about 6 months to 1 year of related work experience before they run these machines on their own.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong math, science, and shop or technical classes, which give you the basics for reading measurements and working with machines.

  2. Machine Feeder or Offbearer

    1-3 months

    Load materials into machines or remove finished products while you learn how a production line runs and how to work safely around equipment.

  3. Forming Machine Operator

    6 months to 1 year of total related experience before this step

    Set up, run, and monitor extruding, forming, or pressing machines that shape products like glassware, brick, tile, clay, or soap, and make small adjustments to keep quality steady.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Machine Operator

    1-3 years of experience first

    You train newer operators, help troubleshoot machine problems, and keep an eye on the whole production area, which requires reliable work habits and clear communication.

  2. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You manage a team of machine operators, schedule shifts, track output and safety, and handle problems across the line, which usually requires strong leadership skills and some training in production or safety practices.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, drafting, or technical classesThese classes teach you how machines work and how to read simple technical drawings and measurements.
  • Take math and physical scienceAlgebra, chemistry, and physics help you understand how heat, pressure, and materials affect the products these machines make.
  • Join a robotics or engineering clubHands-on building teaches you to troubleshoot equipment and work as part of a team.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job at a factory or warehouseEven a short job shows employers you can work safely on a production floor and follow instructions.
  • Volunteer or work on a school or community workshop projectTasks like organizing supplies or helping with repairs build careful habits and attention to detail.

In college

  • Take courses in manufacturing, materials, or industrial technologyThese classes explain how glass, clay, rubber, and other materials are shaped, which helps you understand what the machines are doing.
  • Get a summer internship or co-op at a manufacturing plantWorking on a real production line lets you learn machine setup and quality checks before you apply for jobs.
  • Take a campus job in a lab, shop, or maintenance departmentHands-on work with equipment builds the mechanical skills and safety habits employers look for.
  • Join a student engineering, technology, or manufacturing clubClubs help you practice teamwork, problem-solving, and communicating about technical issues.
  • Look for a short safety or equipment training courseCertifications in workplace safety or forklift and machine operation show employers you are ready to work on the floor.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a plant or factory about entry jobs like machine feeder or helper. Showing up on time and learning safety rules is often how people get chosen for machine operator training.
  • Get comfortable with basic math, such as fractions, decimals, and measurements, because you will check settings and product sizes often.
  • Look for part-time or summer work at a factory, manufacturing plant, or warehouse. Even a few months of experience helps you stand out on an application.

Related jobs that often lead here

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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