Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
SOC Code: 51-6091
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers carries a 37% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $44,980 and -1.1% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 15,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 37% AI exposure, Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers sits 0 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 59% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
29/100
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage F $44,980
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth F -1.1%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) D 37% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers in the Medium band.
Credential × growth standing
Open entry with non-declining BLS pace
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers keeps an HS / some college bar (333 of 832) and sits in Slow growth (245 of 832). Lower formal gates with a non-shrinking employment line - skill and AI desks matter more than credentials here.
Where Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
37% Around the middle lower than 41% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers's Medium automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 51-6091) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
- 2. Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
- 3. Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.
- 4. Observe flow of finish across finish rollers, and turn valves to adjust flow to specifications.
- 5. Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators.
- 6. Remove polymer deposits from spinnerettes and equipment, using silicone spray, brass chisels, and bronze-wool pads.
- 7. Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
- 8. Press metering-pump buttons and turn valves to stop flow of polymers.
- 9. Record operational data on tags, and attach tags to machines.
- 10. Move controls to activate and adjust extruding and forming machines.
Key Skills Required
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
- Quality Control Analysis
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers?
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers has an AI exposure score of 37%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers is projected to decline by 1.1% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 15,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers?
Key skills for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers earn?
The median annual wage for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers is $44,980, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers?
The typical entry-level education for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers?
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (37% here).
- Aircraft cargo handling supervisors · AI exposure 37%
- Bakers · AI exposure 37%
- Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders · AI exposure 37%
- Construction and building inspectors · AI exposure 37%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (-1.1% here).
- Nuclear engineers · growth -1.1%
- Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators · growth -1.2%
- Legal support workers, all other · growth -1.2%
- Automotive and watercraft service attendants · growth -1.0%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 81 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).