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
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
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
How to Become a Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 1Earn a high school diploma or GED and pass a basic math / reading assessmentMost 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.
- 2Start as a machine tender / operator on 2nd or 3rd shiftEntry 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.
- 3Complete on-the-job training and earn press-specific certificationsLearn 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.
- 4Advance to setter / process technician after 2-4 yearsSetter 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.
- 5Specialize in scientific molding, tooling, or automationScientific 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.
- 6Move into lead / shift supervisor / process engineer trackLead 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Q2. How do you troubleshoot a short-shot condition?technical
Q3. Describe your safety mindset around LOTO.situational
Q4. What's the difference between an operator and a setter?culture
Q5. Why manufacturing and this specific plant?closer
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.
- βΈMachine 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.
- βΈCompleted 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.
- βΈOwned 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.
- βΈBase $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
- βAttendance 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.
- βRefusal 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.
- βWeak 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.
- βPoor LOTO discipline in previous roles β a single documented LOTO violation on a background reference is often a disqualifier at safety-serious employers.
- βNo demonstrated interest in the setter track β employers screen for candidates who want to advance, not just cover a shift indefinitely.
- βCannot 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
- βShift 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.
- βOvertime 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.
- βSkill premiums β RJG Master Molder I / II, Arburg / Husky / Engel manufacturer certifications, tooling repair, robot programming (Wittmann / Sepro / Yushin) each add $1-4/hr.
- βUnion 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.
- βEmployer 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.
- βGeographic 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.
- βSetter 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.
- βSign-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) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. 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% |
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. 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% |