Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the U.S.
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the U.S. earn a median of $47,720 a year ($22.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 60,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,710 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $49,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,700 | $17.65 |
| 25th percentile | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| Median | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| 75th percentile | $56,840 | $27.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,710 | $30.63 |
| Average (mean) | $49,480 | $23.79 |
Half of extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,976.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,988.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,835.38 |
| Weekly | $917.69 |
| Hourly | $22.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,720 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $61,350 | 430 |
| Vermont | $59,220 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $53,330 | 2,950 |
| Nebraska | $52,360 | 510 |
| Minnesota | $51,830 | 900 |
| New Jersey | $51,180 | 750 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,150 | 2,960 |
| Colorado | $51,110 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $50,370 | 1,490 |
| Connecticut | $50,230 | 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $50,230 | 3,190 |
| New Hampshire | $50,210 | 580 |
| Arkansas | $50,150 | 1,270 |
| Kentucky | $50,000 | 1,400 |
| Oregon | $49,650 | 440 |
| South Dakota | $49,620 | 50 |
| Indiana | $49,420 | 3,740 |
| South Carolina | $49,040 | 2,000 |
| Utah | $49,000 | 410 |
| New York | $48,930 | 1,400 |
| Illinois | $48,520 | 2,750 |
| Georgia | $48,410 | 2,560 |
| Louisiana | $47,930 | 580 |
| Alabama | $47,690 | 1,200 |
| Tennessee | $47,550 | 2,980 |
| Iowa | $47,240 | 450 |
| Washington | $47,230 | 1,080 |
| Maryland | $46,730 | 270 |
| Maine | $46,550 | 90 |
| Ohio | $46,340 | 5,020 |
| Kansas | $46,270 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $46,140 | 470 |
| Missouri | $46,050 | 1,040 |
| Wyoming | $45,950 | 80 |
| Texas | $45,890 | 4,070 |
| California | $45,880 | 3,870 |
| New Mexico | $45,670 | 50 |
| Virginia | $45,220 | 1,490 |
| Michigan | $45,140 | 1,800 |
| Arizona | $45,000 | 910 |
| West Virginia | $44,510 | 540 |
| Mississippi | $44,220 | 550 |
| Nevada | $44,210 | 260 |
| Florida | $39,730 | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma | $38,820 | 490 |
| Idaho | $34,700 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $26,030 | 480 |
Best-paying metro areas for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $64,760 | 50 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $64,760 | 450 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $64,520 | 110 |
| Appleton, WI | $61,960 | 250 |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,570 | 90 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $61,530 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60,820 | 520 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $60,390 | 430 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,370 | 150 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $56,970 | 790 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $56,820 | 110 |
| Columbia, SC | $56,430 | 310 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $56,020 | 650 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $55,960 | 820 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $55,790 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,070 | $48,630 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,790 | $46,010 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,680 | $48,570 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,460 | $48,590 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,120 | $45,410 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,090 | $42,650 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 940 | $53,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 880 | $45,170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 820 | $55,960 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 810 | $47,990 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 800 | $49,450 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 790 | $56,970 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 770 | $48,370 |
| Knoxville, TN | 740 | $51,170 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 670 | $45,960 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median salary for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $47,720 a year, or $22.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. earn at least $63,710 a year. The top 25% earn $56,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,700 a year, and a quarter of extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $40,450 or less.
How many extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in the U.S.?
About 60,840 extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.