Salary guide, May 2025
Extrusion Technician pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States was $47,720 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,450 and $56,840.
Also searched as: Extrusion Operator, Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Lead. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-4021 Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The Extrusion Technician title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,700 | $40,450 | $47,720 | $56,840 | $63,710 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.65 | $19.45 | $22.94 | $27.33 | $30.63 |
BLS estimated 60,840 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4021 Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,890 | $30,630 to $47,260 | 220 | 0.2 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $44,210 | $37,970 to $47,600 | 160 | 0.28 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $44,280 | $38,710 to $49,860 | 110 | 0.2 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $40,160 | $39,290 to $49,510 | 100 | 0.34 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $55,960 | $44,940 to $61,140 | 820 | 0.22 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $55,960 | $44,940 to $61,140 | 820 | 0.22 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $48,590 | $43,590 to $62,830 | 1,460 | 0.92 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,630 | $38,140 to $58,040 | 2,070 | 1.17 |
Rank every metro for Extrusion Technician
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Paper Manufacturing$61,770
- Converted Paper Product Manufacturing$61,770
- Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing$59,670
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing$58,920
- Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities$57,910
- Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing$56,230
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$56,130
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing$52,370
- Beverage Manufacturing$52,370
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$52,360
- Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing$51,220
- Machine Shops$51,170
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing$51,070
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing$51,010
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing$51,010
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 58,050 | $40,710 | $47,840 | $56,970 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 30,760 | $39,260 | $46,760 | $55,680 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 29,920 | $39,270 | $46,760 | $55,700 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 11,990 | $45,790 | $50,680 | $59,540 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 6,080 | $47,410 | $56,130 | $66,490 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 4,800 | $40,980 | $46,890 | $55,380 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 4,730 | $45,950 | $51,070 | $58,190 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 4,650 | $46,290 | $51,220 | $58,240 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 3,390 | $40,590 | $47,400 | $54,790 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3,290 | $41,600 | $46,630 | $55,380 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 2,220 | $45,790 | $49,490 | $56,970 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 1,630 | $43,480 | $50,400 | $62,810 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,590 | $43,570 | $50,790 | $63,010 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,210 | $40,730 | $49,640 | $57,860 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 1,190 | $39,920 | $45,880 | $50,130 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 1,000 | $45,530 | $48,230 | $53,770 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 860 | $39,030 | $49,530 | $60,930 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 840 | $37,810 | $46,500 | $55,680 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 820 | $46,990 | $49,140 | $55,590 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 790 | $37,710 | $41,930 | $50,640 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 520 | $39,340 | $48,830 | $55,080 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 400 | $35,050 | $39,900 | $68,010 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 350 | $41,290 | $50,170 | $52,230 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 330 | $40,090 | $43,590 | $47,940 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 300 | $51,110 | $58,920 | $60,890 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 300 | $34,990 | $39,860 | $51,360 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 200 | $57,190 | $61,770 | $69,380 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 200 | $57,190 | $61,770 | $69,380 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 180 | $49,100 | $56,230 | $60,750 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 180 | $52,360 | $52,360 | $61,710 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 140 | $49,230 | $57,910 | $62,170 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 130 | $38,090 | $40,000 | $47,210 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 100 | $42,010 | $51,170 | $60,730 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 90 | $41,740 | $44,410 | $46,040 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 90 | $38,590 | $44,530 | $47,240 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 80 | $51,240 | $59,670 | $68,800 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 80 | $42,880 | $44,530 | $47,240 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 60 | $50,500 | $52,370 | $52,370 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 60 | $50,500 | $52,370 | $52,370 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 60 | $37,600 | $51,010 | $51,010 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 60 | $37,600 | $51,010 | $51,010 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 50 | $40,630 | $44,410 | $44,680 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 50 | $45,530 | $46,980 | $49,990 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 40 | $35,510 | $40,240 | $41,710 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 40 | $44,190 | $45,760 | $49,530 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | Not published by BLS | $35,310 | $36,250 | $40,350 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Extrusion Technician, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $39,370 | $46,980 | $54,360 |
| May 2025 | $40,450 | $47,720 | $56,840 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about material handling and changeovers?
Resin blending, drying and color changes are common. We ask how the person managed contamination and how they cleaned lines on a change. Careful handling prevents costly waste.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Extrusion Technician?
The median annual wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States was $47,720 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,450 and $56,840. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $36,700. 90% earned less than $63,710.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Extrusion Technician at a plant?
The Extrusion Technician title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 60,840 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters assesses the Extrusion Technician role, which maps to SOC 51-4021 for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. The national median annual wage is $47,720, reflecting a $740 increase from May 2024 to May 2025.
This role requires technical precision in die setup, screw control, and downstream equipment management, tasks that are crucial in high-volume production settings.
The national P25 to P75 middle-band width is $16,390. Sector data indicates that Paper Manufacturing industries report a median of $61,770, while Turned Product and Screw Manufacturing shows a median of $59,670. These sector-specific figures provide insight into the pay premiums associated with specialized production environments compared to the broader national occupational median.
Examining regional data, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro shows a median of $48,630 with a location quotient of 1.17. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, area lists a median of $46,010 and a location quotient of 0.73. These metrics demonstrate that the prevalence of extrusion work varies by metro, but higher employment concentrations do not directly correlate with higher wage levels for the technician role.
These figures reflect base wages and do not capture the complexity of specialized extrusion operations or the influence of individual plant production requirements. The BLS data aggregates all extrusion-related machine operators, so the provided range represents an average across many different industries and seniority levels. For specific technical roles, hiring managers should consider these figures as a starting point and account for external factors like shift-based incentives or technical certification premiums.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the P25 to P75 band width for extrusion technicians?
The national middle-band width is $16,390, calculated from a P25 of $40,450 to a P75 of $56,840. This range reflects the variation in market pay for the broader occupation.
How did the median annual wage change between May 2024 and May 2025?
The median increased by $740, moving from $46,980 in May 2024 to $47,720 in May 2025. This represents a moderate shift in base pay for the occupation.
Are the listed industry medians specific to local areas?
No: The provided industry medians represent national data for the specified NAICS codes. They do not reflect localized variations in pay for those industries.
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