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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18,880 | 5.8 % | $16.69 | $34,720 | 1.1 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $10.93 | $12.99 | $16.09 | $19.70 | $23.89 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $22,740 | $27,010 | $33,470 | $40,980 | $49,690 |
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 | 4,180 | 0.73 | $15.94 | $33,150 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 4,170 | 1.16 | $17.94 | $37,320 |
| Fabric Mills | 2,910 | 5.42 | $16.64 | $34,610 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 2,500 | 0.61 | $18.44 | $38,360 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 1,110 | 3.87 | $15.60 | $32,440 |
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 | 2,910 | 5.42 | $16.64 | $34,610 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 1,110 | 3.87 | $15.60 | $32,440 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | 780 | 1.48 | $16.09 | $33,460 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 4,170 | 1.16 | $17.94 | $37,320 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 4,180 | 0.73 | $15.94 | $33,150 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | (8) | (8) | $18.99 | $39,490 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 2,500 | 0.61 | $18.44 | $38,360 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 310 | 0.23 | $17.97 | $37,370 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 4,170 | 1.16 | $17.94 | $37,320 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 190 | 0.04 | $17.17 | $35,710 |
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 | 2,490 | 0.58 | 4.37 | $15.83 | $32,920 |
| North Carolina | 2,410 | 0.56 | 4.23 | $16.10 | $33,490 |
| South Carolina | 2,100 | 1.05 | 7.90 | $17.02 | $35,410 |
| California | 1,640 | 0.10 | 0.74 | $17.50 | $36,410 |
| Illinois | 1,240 | 0.21 | 1.58 | $16.16 | $33,620 |
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 | 2,100 | 1.05 | 7.90 | $17.02 | $35,410 |
| Georgia | 2,490 | 0.58 | 4.37 | $15.83 | $32,920 |
| North Carolina | 2,410 | 0.56 | 4.23 | $16.10 | $33,490 |
| Alabama | 500 | 0.26 | 1.96 | $16.68 | $34,690 |
| Mississippi | 260 | 0.23 | 1.73 | $18.95 | $39,420 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 40 | 0.02 | 0.15 | $25.15 | $52,320 |
| Pennsylvania | 490 | 0.08 | 0.64 | $20.40 | $42,440 |
| Washington | 410 | 0.13 | 0.98 | $20.16 | $41,930 |
| Kansas | 270 | 0.20 | 1.48 | $19.43 | $40,420 |
| Oklahoma | 290 | 0.18 | 1.37 | $19.36 | $40,260 |
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 | 770 | 11.72 | 88.43 | $16.07 | $33,430 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 710 | 0.60 | 4.49 | $15.94 | $33,160 |
| Columbia, SC | 600 | 1.62 | 12.21 | $19.71 | $41,000 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 530 | 0.33 | 2.47 | $17.71 | $36,840 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 450 | 2.08 | 15.68 | $15.96 | $33,190 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 450 | 0.17 | 1.30 | $15.13 | $31,460 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 290 | 1.95 | 14.70 | $17.02 | $35,390 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 190 | 0.47 | 3.53 | $17.14 | $35,660 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 190 | 0.06 | 0.48 | $13.36 | $27,790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 160 | 0.04 | 0.28 | $15.99 | $33,260 |
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 | 770 | 11.72 | 88.43 | $16.07 | $33,430 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 450 | 2.08 | 15.68 | $15.96 | $33,190 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 290 | 1.95 | 14.70 | $17.02 | $35,390 |
| Columbia, SC | 600 | 1.62 | 12.21 | $19.71 | $41,000 |
| Burlington, NC | 50 | 0.91 | 6.84 | $15.21 | $31,630 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 140 | 0.81 | 6.13 | $20.63 | $42,920 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 710 | 0.60 | 4.49 | $15.94 | $33,160 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 190 | 0.47 | 3.53 | $17.14 | $35,660 |
| Bellingham, WA | 40 | 0.47 | 3.57 | (8) | (8) |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 530 | 0.33 | 2.47 | $17.71 | $36,840 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 90 | 0.09 | 0.64 | $23.58 | $49,050 |
| Akron, OH | 80 | 0.24 | 1.80 | $20.95 | $43,570 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 140 | 0.81 | 6.13 | $20.63 | $42,920 |
| Columbia, SC | 600 | 1.62 | 12.21 | $19.71 | $41,000 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | (8) | (8) | (8) | $19.14 | $39,800 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | (8) | (8) | (8) | $18.11 | $37,660 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 530 | 0.33 | 2.47 | $17.71 | $36,840 |
| Wichita, KS | 30 | 0.10 | 0.78 | $17.35 | $36,090 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.18 | $35,740 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 190 | 0.47 | 3.53 | $17.14 | $35,660 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 410 | 8.65 | 65.26 | $15.24 | $31,700 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 0.99 | 7.51 | $14.40 | $29,950 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.23 | 9.25 | $17.77 | $36,970 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.85 | 6.44 | $15.39 | $32,000 |
| Pee Dee South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.84 | 13.88 | $12.87 | $26,770 |
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 | 410 | 8.65 | 65.26 | $15.24 | $31,700 |
| Pee Dee South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.84 | 13.88 | $12.87 | $26,770 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.23 | 9.25 | $17.77 | $36,970 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 0.99 | 7.51 | $14.40 | $29,950 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.85 | 6.44 | $15.39 | $32,000 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Kansas nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.81 | $37,040 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.23 | 9.25 | $17.77 | $36,970 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.18 | 1.35 | $17.11 | $35,590 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.57 | $34,470 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.85 | 6.44 | $15.39 | $32,000 |
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 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018