Extruding & Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic

Also called: Extruder Operator, Extrusion Press Operator, Machine Operator,

What they do:

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

On the job, you would:

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

manufacture and distribution of products

Math and Science

arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Arts and Humanities

English language

Basic Skills

keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Controlled Movement

quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Hand and Finger Use

hold or move items with your hands
keep your arm or hand steady

Endurance

exercise for a long time without getting out of breath

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Self Control
Integrity
Cooperation
Adaptability/Flexibility

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

Microsoft PowerPoint

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

high school diploma/GED
certificate after high school

usually needed

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

$36,320

$25,010

$53,770