Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic
Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Table of contents
What they do
Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
- Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
- Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
- Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
- Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Extruding Machine Operators maintain an inventory of materials. They measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
A typical day for an Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic will also include:
- Clean work areas.
- Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
- Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
- Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
- Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Extruding Machine Operators also operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths. They may also replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Extruding Machine Operators weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments. They might also reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
In addition, they load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
To some Extruding Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
Demand for this career is declining.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,660 to $30,850 per year or $13 to $15 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $54,750 | $26 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $46,330 | $22 |
| Median | $37,530 | $18 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $30,850 | $15 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $26,660 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $50640 | $24.35 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $46520 | $22.36 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $45210 | $21.74 |
| Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing | $45140 | $21.70 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $44500 | $21.39 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $43910 | $21.11 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $43680 | $21.00 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $43450 | $20.89 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $43120 | $20.73 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $43040 | $20.69 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 34000 | $38390 | $18.46 |
| Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing | 4970 | $45140 | $21.70 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 3940 | $37970 | $18.26 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 3360 | $37470 | $18.02 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3200 | $39060 | $18.78 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 2830 | $42870 | $20.61 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2740 | $39750 | $19.11 |
| Employment Services | 1830 | $31680 | $15.23 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1320 | $39240 | $18.86 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 1300 | $37370 | $17.97 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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