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

The median extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders salary in the United States is $45,760 per year ($22.00/hour). Salaries range from $34,630 at the entry level to $63,450+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 58,770 extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$45,760
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.00
per hour
Employment
58,770
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

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

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+2%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

5,200
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

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

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenderss.

Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders (BLS SOC 51-9041) run the forming machinery that shapes rubber, plastic, glass, ceramic, and powdered-metal parts across three converging industry stacks. Injection-molding operators run Milacron, Husky, Arburg, and Engel presses for automotive interior, medical device, and packaging parts. Compression-molding operators run rubber and thermoset presses for tires, seals, and electrical components. Blow-molding operators run Bekum and Bottero machines for bottles, jugs, and industrial containers. Powder-metal and ceramic press operators run Gasbarre and PTX-Pentronix compaction presses for automotive powder-metallurgy parts (transmission gears, VVT rotors, bearing seats). Real employers span the packaging sector (Berry Global, O-I Glass, Silgan, Amcor, Sonoco, Ball, Graphic Packaging), automotive tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers (Magna, Adient, Cooper Standard, Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear), and medical device molders (West Pharmaceutical, Nypro / Jabil Healthcare, Phillips-Medisize). BLS reports 58,770 employed with a median of $45,760; p10 ~$33,400, p90 $65,000+ at senior process-technician and mold-setter roles at premium employers. Entry tender / operator $33-42k; established operator $42-55k; mold setter / process technician $52-72k; senior setter / lead / shift supervisor $65-92k+. The biggest earnings lever is moving from tender (loading, unloading, visual QC) into setter / process technician (mold changes, process parameter tuning, scientific-molding troubleshooting) β€” that transition typically doubles overtime opportunity and adds a $6-15k base bump.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Machine setup and mold / die changeover
Physically install and align the mold, die, or tool in the press; connect water lines, hydraulic hoses, and cable harnesses; verify parallelism and clamp tonnage; run first-off inspection. On injection presses (Milacron, Husky, Arburg, Engel) a full mold change runs 45 min to 4 hr depending on tonnage and complexity. On powder-metallurgy compaction presses (Gasbarre, PTX-Pentronix) tool changes require careful die-set alignment to hold Β±0.001 in dimensional tolerances.
Process parameter tuning (scientific molding / DECOUPLED molding)
Set injection velocity profiles, holding pressure, cooling time, barrel temperature zones (feed / compression / metering), screw RPM, back pressure, and mold temperature. Understand the RJG Scientific Molding decoupled framework β€” fill / pack / hold as separable process phases with independent process windows. Read cavity pressure curves and adjust to maintain part weight, dimensional stability, and cosmetic quality. Same discipline extends to rubber compression molding (cure temperature and cycle time) and blow molding (parison programming, blow-air pressure, cooling).
In-process inspection and SPC (statistical process control)
Pull first-article inspection at run start; sample every 25-50 parts on production runs; log measurements on x-bar and R charts; watch for shifts and trends before they exceed control limits. Instruments β€” calipers, micrometers, height gauges, pin gauges, thread gauges, optical comparators, CMM (coordinate measuring machine) at the QC lab. Read PPAP (Production Part Approval Process β€” AIAG) documentation and control plans at automotive suppliers.
Rubber compound / plastic resin material handling
Verify lot number and Certificate of Analysis on incoming resin or compound; load feed hoppers; monitor drying (desiccant dryers for hygroscopic resins like nylon, PET, PC, ABS at 4-6 hr dry time); manage regrind ratios; segregate color changes to prevent contamination. At powder-metal press stations, blend iron / copper / nickel powders with lubricant to spec tolerances.
Automation and robotic take-out
Program and troubleshoot Wittmann, Sepro, or Yushin sprue pickers and 3-axis robots on injection presses for part removal, gate degating, and pallet placement. Read PLC alarm codes and safety-interlock faults. Reset light curtains and safety gates. Understand the difference between end-of-arm-tooling failure and press-driven fault.
Preventive maintenance and 5S housekeeping
Daily / weekly / monthly PM tasks on the press itself β€” clean feed throat, inspect check ring, verify heater band operation, grease tie bars, check hydraulic oil level and filter status. Own the 5S at the workstation β€” sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain. Report abnormal noise, temperature drift, or hydraulic pressure trends to the maintenance team before failure.
Safety (LOTO, machine guarding, PPE, OSHA 1910)
Lockout / tagout on all energy sources (hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, thermal) before entering the mold area. Verify light-curtain and two-hand-trip safety systems each shift. Wear cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses with side shields, steel-toe boots, hearing protection in press areas over 85 dBA, and heat-resistant gloves for hot molds. Know OSHA 1910.147 (LOTO), 1910.212 (machine guarding), and the site's Hazard Communication (HazCom) SDS binder.
Downtime troubleshooting and root cause analysis
When the press faults or scrap rate spikes, work through the 5 Whys or a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram β€” material, machine, method, measurement, mother nature, manpower. Distinguish between short shots (insufficient fill), flash (excess pressure), warpage (uneven cooling), sink marks (thick sections), and burn marks (trapped gas). At powder-metal presses, diagnose green-strength failures, lamination cracks, and density gradients. Log downtime accurately in the MES (Manufacturing Execution System β€” Plex, Epicor, Rockwell FactoryTalk).

How to Become a Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

  1. 1
    Earn a high school diploma or GED and pass a basic math / reading assessment
    Most entry-level tender roles require HS diploma or GED. Employers screen for basic shop math (fractions, decimals, unit conversion, tape-measure reading) via Wonderlic-style pre-employment tests or the WorkKeys assessment. Some employers accept candidates without HS credentials if manufacturing experience and math skills are demonstrable.
  2. 2
    Start as a machine tender / operator on 2nd or 3rd shift
    Entry roles at packaging molders (Berry Global, Silgan, Amcor), automotive tier suppliers (Cooper Standard, Continental), and glass container plants (O-I Glass, Ardagh) pay $17-22/hr on 2nd or 3rd shift with $1-3/hr shift differential. Duties: load hoppers, unload finished parts, visual inspection, box / palletize output, log production counts. Expect 12-hour shifts on rotating 2-on-2-off or 3-on-3-off schedules at continuous-operation plants.
  3. 3
    Complete on-the-job training and earn press-specific certifications
    Learn one press family in depth β€” Milacron / Husky / Arburg / Engel injection; Bekum / Bottero blow; Gasbarre / PTX-Pentronix compaction. Complete manufacturer training courses (Arburg Training Center, Husky University, Engel Academy) β€” typically 3-5 day courses covering machine setup, controls, and basic troubleshooting. Employers often pay for the training and travel.
  4. 4
    Advance to setter / process technician after 2-4 years
    Setter role requires demonstrated competence in mold changes, process troubleshooting, and dimensional inspection. Base bump $5-12/hr over operator. Complete the RJG Master Molder certification (Master Molder I over 4 days, Master Molder II adds Design of Experiments) β€” this is the credential that separates process technicians from operators at premium employers and adds $4-8/hr on average.
  5. 5
    Specialize in scientific molding, tooling, or automation
    Scientific molding (decoupled molding, cavity-pressure control) is the fastest-growth specialty in injection molding β€” used at medical device molders (West Pharmaceutical, Nypro) and precision-optics molders. Tooling specialty (mold repair, hot-runner troubleshooting, die-set alignment) commands premium at automotive and powder-metal suppliers. Automation specialty (robot programming, EOAT design, vision-system integration) commands premium at high-volume packaging molders.
  6. 6
    Move into lead / shift supervisor / process engineer track
    Lead technician / shift supervisor at 8-15 years experience β€” coordinates 4-12 operators on shift, owns downtime and scrap KPIs, escalates maintenance issues. Base $32-42/hr + overtime. Process engineer requires an associate degree or engineering-technology bachelor's for many employers β€” path from setter to Process Engineer II typically adds a 2-year Plastics Engineering Technology or Manufacturing Engineering Technology degree at UMass Lowell, Penn College, Ferris State, Pittsburg State, or Ohio State ATI.

Career Progression

Machine Tender / Entry Operator
0-2 yrs$33-42k base ($16-20/hr) + $1-3/hr shift differential + overtime + benefits at unionized shops (USW, UAW)
  • β€’Load resin / compound / powder into hoppers; unload finished parts; box and palletize output
  • β€’Perform visual inspection and separate scrap; log production counts and downtime reasons in MES
  • β€’Complete daily 5S housekeeping and LOTO for basic hopper / feed-throat cleaning tasks
  • β€’Escalate press faults, dimensional drift, or safety concerns to setter and shift supervisor
Next: Machine Operator / Setter Trainee at 2-3 years after demonstrated reliability and basic setup competence.
Machine Operator / Setter Trainee
2-5 yrs$42-55k base ($20-26/hr) + shift differential + overtime + full benefits
  • β€’Run 2-4 presses per shift; monitor process parameters and pull first-article inspection at run start
  • β€’Perform minor mold changes under setter supervision; complete tooling connect / disconnect and water-line verification
  • β€’Own SPC data collection at the workstation; log measurements and flag out-of-control trends
  • β€’Complete manufacturer training (Arburg / Husky / Engel / Milacron) on one press family
Next: Mold Setter / Process Technician at 4-6 years after RJG Master Molder I or equivalent process certification.
Mold Setter / Process Technician
5-10 yrs$52-72k base ($25-34/hr) + shift differential + overtime + full benefits + $500-2k skill-premium adders
  • β€’Execute full mold / die changeovers on any press in the cell; verify parallelism, tonnage, and shut height
  • β€’Set and optimize process parameters using scientific-molding methods; run capability studies (Cpk / Ppk)
  • β€’Troubleshoot short shots, flash, warpage, sink, burn marks, and dimensional drift at the press
  • β€’Complete PPAP documentation for new part launches; support APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) with tooling and process trials
  • β€’Train tenders and operators on new molds and material families
Next: Senior Setter / Lead / Process Engineer at 8-12 years β€” split between IC senior-technician and shift-supervisor tracks.
Senior Setter / Lead / Shift Supervisor
10-18 yrs$65-92k base ($31-44/hr) + overtime + full benefits + $2-5k lead premium
  • β€’Coordinate 4-12 operators on shift; own scrap, downtime, and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) KPIs
  • β€’Execute the toughest mold changes and process troubleshooting on the floor; escalation point for the shift
  • β€’Interface with maintenance, tooling, quality, and production planning on new-launch and problem-part scenarios
  • β€’Approve first-article inspection sign-offs; complete corrective-action reports (8D / A3) on customer complaints
  • β€’Mentor setters and process trainees; deliver Arburg / RJG / vendor-training modules internally
Next: Process Engineer, Tooling Engineer, or Production Manager β€” often requires an associate or bachelor's degree in plastics / manufacturing engineering technology.
Process Engineer / Production Manager (Engineering / Management Track)
15+ yrs$78-118k base + bonus (5-15% of base at production-manager level) + full benefits + occasional relocation and retention adders
  • β€’Own the process-development function for a product family β€” DOE studies, cycle-time reduction, scrap reduction
  • β€’Lead new-launch APQP / PPAP with tooling, quality, and program management; approve process capability sign-offs
  • β€’Own capital-project justification and CAPEX submissions for new presses, automation, and tooling
  • β€’Manage 15-45 operators, setters, and leads across shifts as Production Manager; own plant P&L contribution

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a mold change from arrival to first-piece approval.technical
Structured. (1) Pre-change prep β€” pull the mold from storage, stage the water lines and cable harness, warm the mold in the pre-heater if it's a hot-runner tool, confirm the setup sheet is on the press. (2) LOTO β€” verify hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and thermal lockouts before entering the tie bar area. (3) Remove the outgoing mold β€” disconnect water, hydraulic, and cable connections; retract clamp; use overhead crane and mold cart. (4) Install the incoming mold β€” align, seat, verify parallelism, torque clamp bolts, connect water and cable, verify tonnage and shut height. (5) Purge the barrel to the new resin β€” verify no cross-contamination in the melt stream. (6) Run first shots on low pressure β€” verify no interference, no drag marks. (7) Ramp to setup-sheet parameters β€” velocity profile, holding pressure, cooling time, mold temperature. (8) Pull first-piece for full-dimensional inspection at the QC lab; hold production until approval. (9) Log the change duration and any issues in the MES. Total time 45 min to 4 hr depending on press tonnage and mold complexity. Interviewers screen for candidates who name LOTO, first-piece inspection, and setup-sheet discipline explicitly.
Q2. How do you troubleshoot a short-shot condition?technical
Systematically. (1) Verify the material β€” correct resin, correct color, correct regrind ratio, correct dryer status. Nylon or PET that's under-dried will foam or flash-cool at the gate and starve the cavity. (2) Verify melt temperature β€” barrel zones on setpoint, thermocouples reading correctly, melt temperature at the nozzle in-spec (typically measured with a needle probe). (3) Verify injection velocity and pressure β€” check the pressure trace on the machine controller; if the injection pressure is peaking at max setpoint, the machine is pressure-limited and the shot won't fill. Reduce material viscosity (raise melt temperature or mold temperature), increase injection velocity, or open the gate. (4) Verify screw recovery β€” check that shot size is correct and cushion is present; a lost cushion means the check ring is leaking. (5) Verify mold venting β€” trapped gas at the last-to-fill area starves the cavity. (6) If all machine parameters are in-spec, escalate to tooling for gate geometry, runner balance, or mold-temperature-control issues. Interviewers screen for candidates who don't jump to 'crank up the pressure' as the first move.
Q3. Describe your safety mindset around LOTO.situational
Non-negotiable. LOTO is verify-before-touch on every energy source: hydraulic (main pump and accumulator bleed), pneumatic (air supply and any accumulators), electrical (main disconnect and control power), thermal (mold hot-runner and barrel heater bands), and gravity / stored mechanical (mold weight and platen position). I lock and tag my own lock every time; I don't rely on a co-worker's lock. Before entering the mold area or opening a guard, I verify zero-energy by trying to start the machine and by touching the mold with a gloved hand to confirm it's not hot. Every LOTO event gets a completed checklist with time stamps. Two co-workers have had close calls that I know of personally β€” one on a stored hydraulic accumulator, one on a hot-runner tool that wasn't allowed to cool β€” and both would have been prevented by strict LOTO discipline. Interviewers screen for candidates who take LOTO seriously and who don't cut corners for a 5-minute job.
Q4. What's the difference between an operator and a setter?culture
Operator runs the press and monitors the process; setter changes the mold and sets the process. Operators own visual and dimensional inspection, hopper loading, scrap segregation, and shift-log entries. Setters own mold changes, process-parameter setup, first-article approval, capability studies, and process-troubleshooting when the operator escalates. The pay gap is $5-12/hr on average because setters can cost the plant $2-8k in scrap and downtime with a single bad decision β€” the responsibility is meaningfully different. My goal is to move to setter within 24-36 months by demonstrating reliable operation, completing manufacturer training on the press family (Arburg or Husky or Engel), and earning RJG Master Molder I. Interviewers screen for candidates who understand the ladder and have a realistic timeline.
Q5. Why manufacturing and this specific plant?closer
Show research and intent. Manufacturing appeals because the work is tangible, the feedback loop is immediate (parts are running or they're not), and the ladder from tender to setter to process technician to lead is well-defined and pays well without a 4-year degree. This specific plant appeals because [name a specific product family β€” automotive interior trim, medical device components, food and beverage packaging, powder-metal transmission gears] and [name a specific technology β€” Milacron all-electric presses, Gasbarre powder-metal compaction cells, Bekum accumulator-head blow molders]. I also know the plant is on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule with a shift differential of $2/hr on 2nd and $3/hr on 3rd, and I'm ready for the shift-work commitment. Interviewers screen for candidates who did their homework and who are realistic about the physical demands and shift schedules.

Resume Template β€” Machine Operator / Setter Trainee (2-5 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Machine Operator / Setter Trainee (2-5 yrs)
  • β–ΈMachine operator on 4 Milacron injection presses (300-750 ton) at a tier-1 automotive interior molder; 12-hour rotating shift schedule with 98.4% attendance across 24 months.
  • β–ΈCompleted Arburg Level 1 setup training (2023) and RJG Master Molder I (2024); moved from tender to operator/setter trainee at month 18 with a $4.75/hr base bump.
  • β–ΈOwned SPC data collection on 6 part numbers with Cpk >1.67 across the review window; flagged 3 out-of-control conditions before they generated a single scrap load.
  • β–ΈBase $22.40/hr + $2/hr 2nd-shift differential + overtime (avg 8 hrs / week) + full benefits + $500 attendance bonus quarterly. HS Diploma + Arburg Level 1 + RJG Master Molder I.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Attendance issues β€” most plants track attendance strictly (point system with termination at 8-12 points); missed shifts on a rotating schedule cascade into overtime for the rest of the crew.
  • βœ—Refusal to work overtime or shift rotations β€” continuous-operation plants require operators to cover for absences and to work 12-hour shifts on 2-2-3 or 3-on-3-off rotations.
  • βœ—Weak shop math or tape-measure reading β€” the entry math assessment (Wonderlic or WorkKeys) screens out candidates who can't handle fractions, decimals, and basic unit conversion.
  • βœ—Poor LOTO discipline in previous roles β€” a single documented LOTO violation on a background reference is often a disqualifier at safety-serious employers.
  • βœ—No demonstrated interest in the setter track β€” employers screen for candidates who want to advance, not just cover a shift indefinitely.
  • βœ—Cannot lift 40-50 lbs repeatedly or stand on concrete for 12-hour shifts β€” the physical demands are real and DOT-style pre-employment physicals screen for baseline capability.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Shift differential β€” 2nd shift $1-2/hr, 3rd shift $2-3.50/hr, weekend crew $3-5/hr. Choose the shift that pays for your life stage; the differential compounds meaningfully over a career.
  • βœ“Overtime β€” most plants run 6-8 hr overtime / week baseline with peak demand pushing to 20+ hr / week. Time-and-a-half above 40 hr and double-time on holidays adds $8-25k / yr on top of base.
  • βœ“Skill premiums β€” RJG Master Molder I / II, Arburg / Husky / Engel manufacturer certifications, tooling repair, robot programming (Wittmann / Sepro / Yushin) each add $1-4/hr.
  • βœ“Union scale (USW, UAW, IBEW at some plants) β€” union contracts typically add $2-6/hr over non-union pay for the same rank plus pension eligibility and stronger job security. Non-union employers counter with performance bonuses ($1-5k / yr) and better 401(k) match.
  • βœ“Employer premium β€” medical device molders (West Pharmaceutical, Nypro / Jabil Healthcare, Phillips-Medisize) pay 10-20% over commodity packaging (Berry Global, Silgan). Automotive tier-1 (Magna, Adient) pays competitively but with stricter PPAP / IATF 16949 audit exposure.
  • βœ“Geographic premium β€” Great Lakes automotive corridor (MI, OH, IN) has the highest concentration of setter roles at premium pay. Southeast (TN, KY, GA, SC) growing fast on automotive relocations. Texas Gulf Coast on packaging and chemicals.
  • βœ“Setter and mold-changeover-bonus programs β€” some plants pay a per-change bonus ($15-40 per completed change) or a monthly bonus ($200-800) tied to changeover speed and first-piece-yield metrics.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus for experienced setters β€” $2-8k sign-on is common at tight-labor plants; RJG Master Molder II with 5+ years of scientific-molding experience often draws $5-15k sign-on plus relocation.

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

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$36K
$58Kβ–  No data
StateMedianvs. National
Maine$57,990+26.7%
Pennsylvania$53,580+17.1%
Vermont$52,340+14.4%
Minnesota$52,070+13.8%
South Carolina$51,620+12.8%
West Virginia$50,690+10.8%
Nevada$50,050+9.4%
Virginia$49,390+7.9%
Iowa$49,340+7.8%
Colorado$49,100+7.3%
1–10 of 45

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Modesto, CA$88,940+94.4%
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI$72,500+58.4%
Lincoln, NE$61,820+35.1%
Vallejo, CA$59,110+29.2%
Terre Haute, IN$59,080+29.1%
Duluth, MN-WI$57,910+26.6%
St. Louis, MO-IL$56,320+23.1%
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS$55,940+22.2%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$55,780+21.9%
Appleton, WI$54,630+19.4%
1–10 of 124
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
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View Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary trend (2011–2024) β†’