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Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19,340 | 5.0 % | $17.03 | $35,420 | 1.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $10.73 | $13.15 | $16.46 | $20.15 | $23.95 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $22,310 | $27,340 | $34,240 | $41,910 | $49,810 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 4,240 | 0.75 | $15.87 | $33,010 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 3,610 | 3.91 | $20.43 | $42,500 |
| Fabric Mills | 2,730 | 4.97 | $16.46 | $34,230 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 1,380 | 4.67 | $15.57 | $32,380 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 1,320 | 1.64 | $17.37 | $36,120 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric Mills | 2,730 | 4.97 | $16.46 | $34,230 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 1,380 | 4.67 | $15.57 | $32,380 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 3,610 | 3.91 | $20.43 | $42,500 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 1,320 | 1.64 | $17.37 | $36,120 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | 790 | 1.52 | $16.45 | $34,210 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 3,610 | 3.91 | $20.43 | $42,500 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 160 | 0.06 | $19.02 | $39,560 |
| Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing | 820 | 0.96 | $18.93 | $39,370 |
| Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing | (8) | (8) | $18.51 | $38,510 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 1,320 | 1.64 | $17.37 | $36,120 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 3,120 | 0.74 | 5.37 | $15.88 | $33,030 |
| North Carolina | 2,490 | 0.59 | 4.28 | $16.98 | $35,310 |
| South Carolina | 1,970 | 0.99 | 7.21 | $17.63 | $36,670 |
| California | 1,550 | 0.10 | 0.70 | $16.49 | $34,300 |
| Texas | 920 | 0.08 | 0.57 | $15.58 | $32,400 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 1,970 | 0.99 | 7.21 | $17.63 | $36,670 |
| Georgia | 3,120 | 0.74 | 5.37 | $15.88 | $33,030 |
| North Carolina | 2,490 | 0.59 | 4.28 | $16.98 | $35,310 |
| West Virginia | 250 | 0.36 | 2.58 | $15.68 | $32,620 |
| Mississippi | 340 | 0.30 | 2.18 | $19.68 | $40,930 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 720 | 0.19 | 1.39 | $26.13 | $54,350 |
| Oregon | 40 | 0.02 | 0.15 | $24.34 | $50,630 |
| Mississippi | 340 | 0.30 | 2.18 | $19.68 | $40,930 |
| Connecticut | 40 | 0.02 | 0.15 | $19.57 | $40,700 |
| Florida | 380 | 0.05 | 0.34 | $19.24 | $40,030 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GA | 1,090 | 15.98 | 115.99 | $17.00 | $35,360 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 960 | 0.82 | 5.98 | $17.51 | $36,420 |
| Columbia, SC | 660 | 1.77 | 12.84 | $18.40 | $38,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 580 | 0.23 | 1.66 | $14.64 | $30,440 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 570 | 0.37 | 2.66 | $16.71 | $34,750 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 530 | 2.46 | 17.86 | $15.01 | $31,220 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 210 | 0.54 | 3.90 | $17.17 | $35,710 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 200 | 1.43 | 10.36 | $16.84 | $35,040 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 190 | 0.05 | 0.33 | $17.60 | $36,620 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 180 | 0.06 | 0.45 | $15.18 | $31,570 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GA | 1,090 | 15.98 | 115.99 | $17.00 | $35,360 |
| Rome, GA | 130 | 3.61 | 26.23 | $13.03 | $27,090 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 530 | 2.46 | 17.86 | $15.01 | $31,220 |
| Columbia, SC | 660 | 1.77 | 12.84 | $18.40 | $38,280 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 200 | 1.43 | 10.36 | $16.84 | $35,040 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 960 | 0.82 | 5.98 | $17.51 | $36,420 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 100 | 0.69 | 4.99 | $14.08 | $29,290 |
| Burlington, NC | 40 | 0.61 | 4.43 | $15.52 | $32,280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 210 | 0.54 | 3.90 | $17.17 | $35,710 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 140 | 0.41 | 3.00 | (8) | (8) |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | (8) | (8) | (8) | $23.57 | $49,030 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 100 | 0.10 | 0.70 | $23.44 | $48,750 |
| Wichita, KS | 40 | 0.15 | 1.09 | $18.78 | $39,050 |
| Columbia, SC | 660 | 1.77 | 12.84 | $18.40 | $38,280 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 90 | 0.16 | 1.15 | $18.38 | $38,220 |
| Rochester, NY | (8) | (8) | (8) | $18.00 | $37,430 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 140 | 0.22 | 1.57 | $17.70 | $36,820 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.66 | $36,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 190 | 0.05 | 0.33 | $17.60 | $36,620 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 960 | 0.82 | 5.98 | $17.51 | $36,420 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 560 | 3.54 | 25.71 | $16.35 | $34,010 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 450 | 1.77 | 12.82 | $15.70 | $32,650 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 1.44 | 10.44 | $15.35 | $31,930 |
| Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 340 | 7.12 | 51.66 | $15.79 | $32,840 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.12 | 8.13 | $15.39 | $32,000 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 340 | 7.12 | 51.66 | $15.79 | $32,840 |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 560 | 3.54 | 25.71 | $16.35 | $34,010 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 1.84 | 13.39 | $22.21 | $46,200 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 450 | 1.77 | 12.82 | $15.70 | $32,650 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 1.44 | 10.44 | $15.35 | $31,930 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 1.84 | 13.39 | $22.21 | $46,200 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $18.47 | $38,420 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.61 | 4.44 | $18.17 | $37,790 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.04 | 7.54 | $17.20 | $35,770 |
| Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.71 | 5.18 | $16.39 | $34,080 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017