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Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Production · SOC 51-6091
0.0% AI Exposure — Low
$46,350
Median Annual Salary
Average
O*NET Outlook
2,300
Proj. Annual Openings
12,850
Employment (OEWS 2025)
-5.7%/yr
Empl. growth (2019–2025)
100/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 51-6091 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
Proxy / seed data labeledDescriptive-only
- SOC exposure
- 0.0%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 52/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $46,350
- No H-1B offered-wage row for this SOC.
- Projected openings
- 2,300
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change -1.1%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- —
- FY— certified LCAs; 2,466 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringActive ListeningSpeaking
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure0.0%
AI Resiliency100/100
Exposure BandLow
Sector Avg. Exposure0.7%
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
16.7%
Consensus
Actual adoption · Anthropic0%
AI capability · OpenAI6.9%
AI ability · AIOE43.1%
Automation baseline (2013) · Frey & Osborne88%
Top Skills
1.Operations Monitoring
2.Operation and Control
3.Monitoring
4.Active Listening
5.Speaking
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →No H-1B certified LCA filings recorded for this occupation in FY2016–FY2025.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
Common titles: Extruder, Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Granulator, Hot End Operator
Representative Tasks
- •Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
- •Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
- •Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.
- •Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators.
- •Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
- •Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
- •Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
- •Signal others to coordinate work activities.
- •Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Tools & Technologies
Microsoft Excel · hotMicrosoft Office software · hotMicrosoft Outlook · hotSAP software · hotCamstar Manufacturing Execution System MESStatistical process control SPC software
Related Occupations
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticExtruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersPaper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersMolding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticAdhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
0.5%
Avg AI Exposure
1
Bright Outlook
Horizontal bar chart showing occupations with the highest projected annual openings. Each bar length represents annual projected openings. Color uses a gradient from violet (lower) to cyan (higher). Summary statistics are shown above the chart.
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Multi-year BLS OEWS history for SOC 51-6091: 2019 — employment: 18,230, median wage: $36,110; 2020 — employment: 15,840, median wage: $37,160; 2021 — employment: 14,040, median wage: $37,550; 2022 — employment: 14,460, median wage: $39,860; 2023 — employment: 14,520, median wage: $44,030; 2025 — employment: 12,850, median wage: $46,350.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 0.7% |
| Outlook | Average | 4% Bright |
| Median Salary | $46,350 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |