Plastic Extrusion Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Plastic Extrusion Operator make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Plastic Extrusion Operator in the United States is $40,960 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Plastic Extrusion Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,899
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,256 to $44,069
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,884
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View as table View as graph 25% $37,256 10% $33,884 90% $46,899 75% $44,069 $40,960 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Plastic Extrusion Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $44,069 $3,672 $847 $21
Average $40,960 $3,413 $788 $20
25th Percentile $37,256 $3,105 $716 $18
Check out Plastic Extrusion Operator Job Openings in the United States
Extrusion Operator

GTRJOBS - Staffing + Recruiting - Columbus, OH

Extrusion Machine Operator

Aerotek - Columbus, OH

Extrusion Machine Operator

Aerotek - Columbus, OH

Extrusion Operator Trainee

Engineered Profiles LLC - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Plastic Extrusion Operator Salaries

A Plastic Extrusion Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Plastic Extrusion Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Plastic Extrusion Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $41,475
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,732
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,304
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,686
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,781
Levels Salary
Entry Level Plastic Extrusion Operator$41,475
Intermediate Level Plastic Extrusion Operator$41,732
Senior Level Plastic Extrusion Operator$42,304
Specialist Level Plastic Extrusion Operator$42,686
Expert Level Plastic Extrusion Operator$42,781
$41,475 0 yr
$41,732 < 2 yrs
$42,304 2-4 yrs
$42,686 5-8 yrs
$42,781 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Plastic Extrusion Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Plastic Extrusion Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $45,351.
  • California: $45,179.
  • Massachusetts: $44,577.

Top Paying Cities for Plastic Extrusion Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $51,663
  • San Francisco: $51,098
  • Oakland: $50,021

What Skills Can Increase a Plastic Extrusion Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 4.82% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 3.6% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.89% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 4.82%
Food Safety 3.6%
Continuous Improvement 1.89%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Plastic Extrusion Operator's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$45,466
11%
Process Improvement
$45,056
10%
Analysis
$44,647
9%
5S
$44,237
8%
Leadership
$43,828
7%
ISO
$43,418
6%
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Plastic Extrusion Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Plastic Extrusion Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Durable and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Plastic Extrusion Operator positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Plastic Extrusion Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Plastic Extrusion Operator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable$61,440$30.050%
Chemicals$49,152$24.020%

How Education impacts a Plastic Extrusion Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Plastic Extrusion Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Plastic Extrusion Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $41,447 and $44,328).

Plastic Extrusion Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Plastic Extrusion Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 60.0%
High School 60.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 20.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Plastic Extrusion Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Plastic Extrusion Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Plastic Extrusion Operator

Salaries for a Plastic Extrusion Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $37,177 in 2023 to around $36,663 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Plastic Extrusion Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Plastic Extrusion Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,177
2024
$36,909
2025
$36,663
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,177
2024 $36,909
2025 $36,663
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Plastic Extrusion Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Plastic Extrusion Operator

Here are companies hiring for Plastic Extrusion Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Plastic Extrusion Operator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Plastic Extrusion Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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FAQ about Plastic Extrusion Operator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Plastic Extrusion Operator?

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Plastic Extrusion Operator roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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