What do they do?

Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.

Also known as:

Extruder, Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Granulator, Hot End Operator, Pelletizer Operator, Pot Tipper, Spindraw Operator, Stretch Operator

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Projected Employment in VA

No Data Available
  • 0%

    Change

    Ranks #21 in job growth rate
    40

    Job Openings

    Ranks #11 in net job growth

Best colleges for Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • High school diploma equivalent  (40%)
  • Some college, no degree  (20%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (16%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (13%)
  • Associate's degree  (7%)
  • Master's degree  (4%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

Select Type of Degree:

★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
  • Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
  • Signal others to coordinate work activities.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Operate pumping systems or equipment.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Position containers to receive materials or workpieces.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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