Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (SOC 51-6091) earn a median $46,350 a year ($22.29 an hour) in the United States, with 12,850 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Ohio.
What extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers do
Operators of extruding and forming machines for synthetic and glass fibers produce continuous filaments from materials such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass. Material is forced through the machine's bushings to form continuous filaments. The operator loads raw materials into the machines using hand tools, adjusts the feed mechanisms to set feed rates, and moves controls to start and adjust the process. They monitor control boards and gauges to detect problems like clogged bushings or defective binder applicators, press a button to stop the machine when a run is done or something goes wrong, and tell other workers to correct defects. Details of machine malfunctions are recorded, and the machines are cleaned and maintained with hand tools. Metal and plastic extrusion operators have their own code.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Beamer Operator, Beaming Machine Operator, Blown Film Extrusion Operator, Box Spinner, Drawbench Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.26 | $18.92 | $22.29 | $27.54 | $30.73 | $23.36 | 12,850 |
| Annual | $35,890 | $39,360 | $46,350 | $57,280 | $63,910 | $48,580 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $17.84 | $23.52 | $29.54 | $32.33 | $32.33 | $27.46 | 380 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $37,110 | $48,910 | $61,440 | $67,240 | $67,240 | $57,130 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $18.42 | $21.14 | $28.89 | $30.37 | $33.82 | $26.36 | 930 | 0.44 | 5.34 |
| Annual | $38,310 | $43,960 | $60,100 | $63,180 | $70,340 | $54,820 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $20.42 | $22.85 | $27.50 | $27.50 | $28.72 | $25.59 | 390 | 0.12 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $42,470 | $47,520 | $57,200 | $57,200 | $59,730 | $53,220 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $15.94 | $17.52 | $26.90 | $32.02 | $36.83 | $25.74 | 490 | 0.08 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $33,160 | $36,440 | $55,960 | $66,610 | $76,610 | $53,540 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $23.21 | $23.53 | $25.29 | $29.14 | $31.48 | $26.56 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $48,270 | $48,940 | $52,600 | $60,620 | $65,470 | $55,230 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $17.41 | $19.95 | $21.81 | $23.90 | $28.80 | $22.14 | 2,530 | 0.52 | 6.26 |
| Annual | $36,200 | $41,500 | $45,360 | $49,710 | $59,910 | $46,060 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $16.66 | $17.75 | $19.27 | $25.59 | $28.48 | $21.32 | 1,980 | 0.40 | 4.85 |
| Annual | $34,650 | $36,910 | $40,090 | $53,230 | $59,240 | $44,350 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $17.14 | $18.11 | $20.85 | $24.03 | $28.72 | $21.87 | 1,080 | 0.47 | 5.66 |
| Annual | $35,640 | $37,670 | $43,380 | $49,980 | $59,740 | $45,500 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $18.42 | $21.14 | $28.89 | $30.37 | $33.82 | $26.36 | 930 | 0.44 | 5.34 |
| Annual | $38,310 | $43,960 | $60,100 | $63,180 | $70,340 | $54,820 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.79 | $19.81 | $20.92 | $28.37 | $29.15 | $23.45 | 620 | 0.06 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $39,080 | $41,210 | $43,520 | $59,000 | $60,640 | $48,770 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | Hourly | $16.48 | $25.18 | $34.43 | $34.43 | $34.43 | $30.02 | 100 | 0.80 | 9.65 |
| Annual | $34,290 | $52,380 | $71,610 | $71,610 | $71,610 | $62,430 | ||||
| Mobile, AL | Hourly | $24.97 | $30.62 | $30.72 | $30.72 | $33.84 | $30.43 | 130 | 0.78 | 9.40 |
| Annual | $51,930 | $63,690 | $63,900 | $63,900 | $70,390 | $63,300 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $25.29 | $25.43 | $30.66 | $36.52 | $36.52 | $30.46 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $52,600 | $52,900 | $63,760 | $75,960 | $75,960 | $63,360 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $21.92 | $28.97 | $29.54 | $30.69 | $35.25 | $29.02 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $45,600 | $60,260 | $61,440 | $63,840 | $73,320 | $60,360 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.35 | $21.92 | $29.35 | $29.35 | $29.35 | $26.04 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| Annual | $36,090 | $45,590 | $61,040 | $61,040 | $61,040 | $54,170 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dalton, GA | Hourly | $19.36 | $19.95 | $21.93 | $22.29 | $23.27 | $21.17 | 860 | 13.13 | 158.87 |
| Annual | $40,260 | $41,500 | $45,610 | $46,350 | $48,400 | $44,030 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $18.40 | $21.60 | $28.36 | $28.81 | $28.81 | $26.08 | 590 | 0.20 | 2.47 |
| Annual | $38,260 | $44,940 | $58,980 | $59,920 | $59,920 | $54,250 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $16.75 | $18.60 | $19.38 | $27.65 | $28.70 | $22.29 | 580 | 0.42 | 5.13 |
| Annual | $34,830 | $38,690 | $40,310 | $57,520 | $59,700 | $46,370 | ||||
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | Hourly | $17.66 | $17.66 | $20.38 | $21.06 | $28.72 | $20.87 | 500 | 2.16 | 26.11 |
| Annual | $36,740 | $36,740 | $42,380 | $43,810 | $59,740 | $43,410 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.88 | $22.15 | $28.53 | $29.99 | $31.88 | $26.50 | 220 | 0.06 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $37,190 | $46,070 | $59,330 | $62,380 | $66,320 | $55,110 | ||||
Top industries employing extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) employ 25.7% of extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers nationally (3,300 jobs) at a median $45,460 a year ($21.86 an hour), followed by Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (19.5%) and Fabric Mills (18.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) NAICS 3250A1 | 3,300 | 25.7% | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing NAICS 327000 | 2,500 | 19.5% | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| Fabric Mills NAICS 313200 | 2,330 | 18.1% | $40,090 | $19.27 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills NAICS 313100 | 1,650 | 12.8% | $43,380 | $20.85 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 530 | 4.1% | $44,370 | $21.33 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (12,850). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,550 for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers in May 2021 and $46,350 in May 2025, with employment of 14,040 and 12,850.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,550 | $18.05 | 14,040 |
| May 2022 | $39,860 | $19.16 | 14,460 |
| May 2023 | $44,030 | $21.17 | 14,520 |
| May 2024 | $44,980 | $21.63 | 14,900 |
| May 2025 | $46,350 | $22.29 | 12,850 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
24 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio profile | $29.54 | $61,440 | $37,110 | $67,240 | 380 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| 2 | Alabama profile | $28.89 | $60,100 | $38,310 | $70,340 | 930 | 0.44 | 5.34 |
| 3 | Indiana profile | $27.50 | $57,200 | $42,470 | $59,730 | 390 | 0.12 | 1.47 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania profile | $26.90 | $55,960 | $33,160 | $76,610 | 490 | 0.08 | 0.97 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $25.29 | $52,600 | $48,270 | $65,470 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.69 |
| 6 | Maryland profile | $24.42 | $50,790 | $48,150 | $59,300 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Kansas profile | $24.19 | $50,320 | $38,790 | $74,840 | 320 | 0.22 | 2.70 |
| 8 | Michigan profile | $23.64 | $49,180 | $46,920 | $56,830 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.50 |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $23.46 | $48,810 | $48,810 | $68,700 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 10 | Iowa profile | $23.27 | $48,400 | $38,460 | $65,700 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| 11 | Arkansas profile | $22.97 | $47,770 | $36,500 | $56,110 | 90 | 0.07 | 0.86 |
| 12 | Texas profile | $22.58 | $46,970 | $28,660 | $63,140 | 520 | 0.04 | 0.45 |
| 13 | Tennessee profile | $22.21 | $46,200 | $37,170 | $73,720 | 320 | 0.10 | 1.17 |
| 14 | Georgia profile | $21.81 | $45,360 | $36,200 | $59,910 | 2,530 | 0.52 | 6.26 |
| 15 | California profile | $21.77 | $45,290 | $38,890 | $77,690 | 330 | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| 16 | New York profile | $21.21 | $44,120 | $36,740 | $65,760 | 210 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| 17 | Florida profile | $20.92 | $43,520 | $39,080 | $60,640 | 620 | 0.06 | 0.76 |
| 18 | South Carolina profile | $20.85 | $43,380 | $35,640 | $59,740 | 1,080 | 0.47 | 5.66 |
| 19 | Wisconsin profile | $20.18 | $41,980 | $35,240 | $58,930 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| 20 | Virginia profile | $19.60 | $40,770 | $36,630 | $55,700 | 540 | 0.13 | 1.59 |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $19.27 | $40,090 | $34,650 | $59,240 | 1,980 | 0.40 | 4.85 |
| 22 | Utah profile | $18.55 | $38,570 | $32,070 | $46,970 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.69 |
| 23 | Nebraska profile | $18.09 | $37,630 | $37,630 | $63,270 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| 24 | Kentucky profile | $16.03 | $33,330 | $31,260 | $50,730 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.70 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-6090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-6091 Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-6091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-6091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.