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Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Description
Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Common Tasks
- Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
- Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
- Change dies on extruding machines according to production line changes.
- Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
- Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Required Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Wages
In 2016 the mean hourly wage in California was $17.18 . The hourly rate for this occupation typically paid between $9.47 and $29.36 .
In 2016 the mean annual salary in California was $35,726.14 . The annual salary for this occupation typically paid between $19,700.41 and $61,061.08 .
Occupation Outlook
This occupation employed 3,900 people in California during 2014.
By 2024, there is expected to be a decrease of 20.5% in the number of jobs in California for this occupation, bringing the total number to 3,100.
By 2024, in California, the median hourly rate for this occupation is expected to be $14.00 with the median annual salary reaching $31,102.
