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Skilled Trades

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.

Median salary (BLS)

$45,760

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$35k – $63k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $34,630

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Established

    $45,760

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Senior

    $54,605

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
  • •Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
  • •Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
  • •Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
  • •Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.