Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders for synthetic and glass fibers work in a specialized production role with a national median annual salary of $44,980. With national employment of 15,000 workers, this is a relatively focused occupation within manufacturing. Projected employment growth of -1.1% indicates a slight decline, but there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing replacement and turnover needs. People interested in hands-on production work who bring strong fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and physical strength and stamina may find this path appealing. The role also benefits from being detail oriented and using problem solving, science, mathematics, computers, and critical thinking. Typical entry requires a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make this career accessible to those who want to enter the workforce without a longer academic track. For related options, some may also consider occupations such as print binding and finishing workers or miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators.
This occupation offers a national median annual salary of $44,980, with pay varying across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, Minnesota shows a median salary of $52,600, while Texas is at $46,970 and California at $45,290. New York and Virginia are closer to the national median at $44,120 and $40,770 respectively. Some metro areas report notably higher median salaries. For example, the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington metro lists $63,760, while Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington is at $61,040 and Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington at $59,330. Even in areas near the national median, such as Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim at $44,350, earnings remain in line with the overall national figure. These differences suggest that location can significantly influence earning potential, with certain metros and states providing higher typical pay for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders.
National employment for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers is 15,000, with projected employment growth of -1.1%. This indicates a small expected decline over the projection period. However, the occupation is still expected to generate about 2,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect ongoing replacement needs as experienced workers leave the occupation, retire, or change careers. The combination of slight negative growth with a steady stream of annual openings suggests that while the total number of positions may gradually decrease, there will continue to be hiring activity. People entering this field should be aware of the overall trend while also recognizing that opportunities will continue to arise, especially in locations where the occupation has stronger presence or higher CareerGPS opportunity scores. Considering similar occupations, such as production workers (all other) or miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators, may also broaden employment options over time.
Career opportunities for this occupation vary by state and metro area. Among states, California and New York show relatively high CareerGPS opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.78, with median salaries close to the national figure and modest employment levels of 330 and 210. Virginia and Texas have larger employment counts (540 and 520) and opportunity scores of 54.96 and 51.57, with Texas offering a higher median salary of $46,970 than Virginia’s $40,770. Minnesota stands out for combining a median salary of $52,600 with an opportunity score of 49.59 and employment of 410. Metro-level data highlight areas with especially strong earning potential: Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington has a median salary of $63,760 and a high opportunity score, while Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington and Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington also post median salaries above $59,000. In contrast, Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim and Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell show opportunity but with somewhat lower median pay relative to those highest-paying metros.
The typical education requirement for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who want to enter a specialized production role without completing a multi-year college degree. While formal education beyond high school is not listed as typical, a broad set of skills supports success in this field. Fine motor skills, mechanical ability, and physical strength and stamina align with the hands-on and physically demanding aspects of working with machinery and materials. Being detail oriented, using problem solving and decision making, and applying critical and analytical thinking help with monitoring processes and addressing issues as they arise. Skills in science, mathematics, and computers and information technology round out the profile, supporting work in more technical production environments. Together, these abilities provide a foundation for long-term employability and potential advancement within production-oriented careers.
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