Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Machinists held about 370,000 jobs in 2004. Most machinists work in small machining shops or in manufacturing industries, such as machinery manufacturing and transportation equipment manufacturing (motor vehicle parts and aerospace products and parts). Maintenance machinists work in most industries that use production machinery.
Median hourly earnings of machinists were $16.33 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $12.84 and $20.33. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.08, while the top 10 percent earned more than $24.34. Median hourly earnings in the manufacturing industries employing the largest number of machinists in May 2004 were:
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | $17.78 |
| Motor vehicle parts manufacturing | 17.46 |
| Metalworking machinery manufacturing | 17.06 |
| Machine shops; turned product; and screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing | 15.87 |
| Employment services | 11.09 |
Apprentices earn much less than machinists, but earnings increase quickly as they improve their skills. Also most employers pay for apprentices’ training classes.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machinists)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Construction employment: n.a. mean earnings: $35,830 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,740 | $31,590 | $35,740 | $41,230 | $44,740 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: n.a. mean earnings: $35,830 | $28,740 | $31,590 | $35,740 | $41,230 | $44,740 |
| Manufacturing employment: 83,550 mean earnings: $28,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,960 | $22,810 | $28,100 | $34,110 | $40,700 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 80 mean earnings: $28,030 | $23,500 | $24,780 | $26,910 | $29,380 | $35,830 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 390 mean earnings: $29,990 | $23,930 | $27,210 | $30,900 | $33,660 | $35,320 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,770 | $19,010 | $21,160 | $24,950 | $29,160 | $34,730 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 5,310 mean earnings: $29,190 | $18,970 | $22,870 | $29,010 | $34,650 | $40,870 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 34,880 mean earnings: $27,540 | $18,270 | $21,350 | $26,550 | $33,110 | $39,240 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 1,600 mean earnings: $30,040 | $22,140 | $25,100 | $29,830 | $34,460 | $40,130 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 15,020 mean earnings: $30,260 | $20,250 | $24,480 | $30,280 | $34,880 | $41,310 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 9,550 mean earnings: $30,160 | $18,830 | $23,570 | $28,850 | $34,970 | $43,480 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 1,140 mean earnings: $29,200 | $19,330 | $23,670 | $28,280 | $34,520 | $41,200 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 500 mean earnings: $27,970 | $17,830 | $20,510 | $25,580 | $34,620 | $43,440 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 8,050 mean earnings: $29,580 | $22,510 | $25,270 | $28,960 | $33,830 | $37,990 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 1,710 mean earnings: $34,090 | $19,010 | $23,380 | $32,300 | $44,470 | $53,670 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,630 | $19,640 | $22,890 | $25,240 | $27,650 | $33,400 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 4,500 mean earnings: $27,910 | $17,530 | $21,480 | $26,680 | $32,920 | $40,060 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 620 mean earnings: $26,990 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,440 | $21,810 | $25,560 | $30,510 | $36,370 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 450 mean earnings: $26,110 | $19,270 | $21,250 | $24,720 | $29,390 | $34,970 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 160 mean earnings: $29,220 | $20,460 | $23,800 | $27,140 | $33,610 | $42,180 |
| Retail Trade employment: 40 mean earnings: $22,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,210 | $19,350 | $21,270 | $24,760 | $29,860 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 560 mean earnings: $32,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,800 | $27,160 | $31,780 | $37,130 | $42,580 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 560 mean earnings: $32,140 | $23,800 | $27,160 | $31,780 | $37,130 | $42,580 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 2,040 mean earnings: $23,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,540 | $17,070 | $20,620 | $27,900 | $35,640 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 2,030 mean earnings: $23,310 | $15,540 | $17,060 | $20,590 | $27,830 | $35,540 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $21,180 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,990 | $15,870 | $17,340 | $24,610 | $34,160 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: n.a. mean earnings: $21,180 | $14,990 | $15,870 | $17,340 | $24,610 | $34,160 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 40 mean earnings: $45,840 (def) (IG) | $37,540 | $40,820 | $46,220 | $51,450 | $54,590 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 40 mean earnings: $45,840 | $37,540 | $40,820 | $46,220 | $51,450 | $54,590 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.