Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-9041 Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Occupational Description:
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. Excludes “Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" (51-9196) and "Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders" (51-6042).

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2026

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Southeast Minnesota

Leading Industries for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Manufacturing	560	$25.60/hr
Professional and Business Services	N/A	N/A

Other Regional Data for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Southeast Minnesota	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	30	$28.48/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	30	$28.48/hr	-1.1%
Southwest Minnesota	50	$29.07/hr	4.8%
Southwest Balance of State	50	$27.21/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	90	$26.42/hr	6.3%
Northwest Balance of State	90	$26.86/hr	N/A
Central Minnesota	120	$25.60/hr	8.0%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	260	$23.66/hr	5.1%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	330	$24.62/hr	N/A
Minnesota	560	$25.60/hr	5.5%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	1,400	$25.47/hr	-4.0%
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,130	$28.65/hr	1.9%
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	670	$28.30/hr	-4.6%
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders	N/A	N/A	N/A
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders	120	$27.80/hr	N/A
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	2,540	$24.09/hr	5.3%
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	2,230	$24.38/hr	0.6%
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers	410	$25.87/hr	N/A
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	150	$30.00/hr	-6.0%
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	90	$20.21/hr	-7.6%

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

Feed products into machines by hand or conveyor.
Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes.
Ignite burners to preheat products, or use torches to apply heat.
Pour, scoop, or dump specified ingredients, metal assemblies, or mixtures into sections of machine prior to starting machines.
Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.
Swab molds with solutions to prevent products from sticking.
Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
Send product samples to laboratories for analysis.
Complete work tickets, and place them with products.
Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.