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Occupation · SOC 51-4021

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

There are 60,840 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $47,720 a year. The most jobs are in Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN.

ProductionTypical education: High school diploma or equivalent
60,840
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$47,720
Median pay a year
Middle half: $40,450–$56,840
5,400
Annual openings
10-year change: +0.7%
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 131 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $48,630 · LCA filings 02,070$48,6300
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $46,010 · LCA filings 01,790$46,0100
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $48,570 · LCA filings 01,680$48,5700
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $48,590 · LCA filings 01,460$48,5900
Cleveland, OHMedian pay $45,410 · LCA filings 01,120$45,4100
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $42,650 · LCA filings 01,090$42,6500
Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NCMedian pay $53,800 · LCA filings 0940$53,8000
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CAMedian pay $45,170 · LCA filings 0880$45,1700
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $55,960 · LCA filings 0820$55,9600
Cincinnati, OH–KY–INMedian pay $47,990 · LCA filings 0810$47,9900

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Oshkosh–Neenah, WIEmployment 450 · LCA filings 0$64,7604500
Burlington–South Burlington, VTEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$64,760500
Cedar Rapids, IAEmployment 110 · LCA filings 0$64,5201100
Appleton, WIEmployment 250 · LCA filings 0$61,9602500
Lincoln, NEEmployment 90 · LCA filings 0$61,570900

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $42,827 · Level III $49,608 · Level IV $56,368$36,067$42,827$49,608$56,368
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $42,224 · Level III $46,509 · Level IV $50,773$37,960$42,224$46,509$50,773
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $48,464 · Level III $54,974 · Level IV $61,506$41,933$48,464$54,974$61,506
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $46,363 · Level III $52,354 · Level IV $58,365$40,352$46,363$52,354$58,365
Cleveland, OHLevel II $40,560 · Level III $45,282 · Level IV $49,982$35,859$40,560$45,282$49,982
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $39,770 · Level III $43,472 · Level IV $47,154$36,088$39,770$43,472$47,154
Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NCLevel II $50,045 · Level III $53,394 · Level IV $56,763$46,675$50,045$53,394$56,763
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CALevel II $41,995 · Level III $45,427 · Level IV $48,838$38,584$41,995$45,427$48,838
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $47,445 · Level III $53,643 · Level IV $59,862$41,226$47,445$53,643$59,862
Cincinnati, OH–KY–INLevel II $43,742 · Level III $48,672 · Level IV $53,602$38,813$43,742$48,672$53,602

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

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Related occupations · Production

Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsInspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersFirst-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersPackaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersBakersLaundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersProduction Workers, All Other

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology