How much does a extruding and drawing machine setter make?
The median extruding and drawing machine setter in the United States earns $47,720 per year, about $22.94 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all extruding and drawing machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-4021.
Extruding and drawing machine setter salary range
Pay for extruding and drawing machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,700 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $63,710. The average (mean) wage of $49,480 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $17.65 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $40,450 | $19.45 | |
| Median (50th) | $47,720 | $22.94 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $56,840 | $27.33 | |
| 90th percentile | $63,710 | $30.63 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Extruding and drawing machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Extruding and drawing machine setters earn the most in Rhode Island at $61,350 a year, and the least in Idaho at $34,700. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $61,350 | 430 |
| Vermont | $59,220 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $53,330 | 2,950 |
| Nebraska | $52,360 | 510 |
| Minnesota | $51,830 | 900 |
| New Jersey | $51,180 | 750 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,150 | 2,960 |
| Colorado | $51,110 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $50,370 | 1,490 |
| Connecticut | $50,230 | 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $50,230 | 3,190 |
| New Hampshire | $50,210 | 580 |
| Arkansas | $50,150 | 1,270 |
| Kentucky | $50,000 | 1,400 |
| Oregon | $49,650 | 440 |
| South Dakota | $49,620 | 50 |
| Indiana | $49,420 | 3,740 |
| South Carolina | $49,040 | 2,000 |
| Utah | $49,000 | 410 |
| New York | $48,930 | 1,400 |
| Illinois | $48,520 | 2,750 |
| Georgia | $48,410 | 2,560 |
| Louisiana | $47,930 | 580 |
| Alabama | $47,690 | 1,200 |
| Tennessee | $47,550 | 2,980 |
| Iowa | $47,240 | 450 |
| Washington | $47,230 | 1,080 |
| Maryland | $46,730 | 270 |
| Maine | $46,550 | 90 |
| Ohio | $46,340 | 5,020 |
| Kansas | $46,270 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $46,140 | 470 |
| Missouri | $46,050 | 1,040 |
| Wyoming | $45,950 | 80 |
| Texas | $45,890 | 4,070 |
| California | $45,880 | 3,870 |
| New Mexico | $45,670 | 50 |
| Virginia | $45,220 | 1,490 |
| Michigan | $45,140 | 1,800 |
| Arizona | $45,000 | 910 |
| West Virginia | $44,510 | 540 |
| Mississippi | $44,220 | 550 |
| Nevada | $44,210 | 260 |
| Florida | $39,730 | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma | $38,820 | 490 |
| Idaho | $34,700 | N/A |
State median wages for extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for extruding and drawing machine setters
The BLS projects employment of extruding and drawing machine setters to hold roughly steady from 2025 to 2035. That is little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 60,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 61,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,400 openings a year for extruding and drawing machine setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an extruding and drawing machine setter
The typical entry-level education for extruding and drawing machine setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an extruding and drawing machine setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Rhode Island, $61,350) and the lowest (Idaho, $34,700) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 60,840 people work as extruding and drawing machine setters in the United States. At $47,720 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Extruding and drawing machine setter salary FAQ
How much does an extruding and drawing machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an extruding and drawing machine setter is $22.94. The middle half of extruding and drawing machine setters earn between $19.45 and $27.33 per hour.
What is the highest extruding and drawing machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of extruding and drawing machine setters earn more than $63,710 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an extruding and drawing machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for an extruding and drawing machine setter is $47,720. The average (mean) wage of $49,480 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an extruding and drawing machine setter a well paid job?
At $47,720 a year, an extruding and drawing machine setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 60,840 people work as extruding and drawing machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays extruding and drawing machine setters the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median salary for extruding and drawing machine setters at $61,350 a year. Vermont ($59,220) and North Carolina ($53,330) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an extruding and drawing machine setter a good career?
Employment of extruding and drawing machine setters is projected to hold roughly steady 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an extruding and drawing machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for extruding and drawing machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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