Prevailing Wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Prevailing wage for Extruder Operator roles is set by DOL under SOC 51-9041, covering positions such as Extrusion Operator, Press Operator, and Tuber Operator. DOL establishes four experience-based levels, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city. Sponsored candidates should confirm their offer clears the correct level before signing.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Extruder Operator roles requiring minimal prior machine-setting experience, typically no specialized training beyond on-the-job instruction. Workers perform routine tasks under close supervision with limited independent judgment about setup parameters or production tolerances.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It applies to qualified Extrusion Operators who work independently on standard machine setups, troubleshoot routine issues, and have developed familiarity with product specifications without requiring constant supervisory direction.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who handle complex multi-machine setups, train junior staff, and make independent adjustments to forming and compacting parameters. These workers typically bring several years of hands-on production experience across varied materials or product lines.
Level 4 covers fully competent operators in senior or lead roles, often responsible for line oversight, quality control sign-off, and process improvement. Employers filing at this level expect the worker to operate with minimal supervision across the full range of machine types in scope.
Prevailing Wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Extruder Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title maps to SOC 51-9041
Job titles like Press Operator or Machine Operator are sometimes filed under adjacent SOC codes covering different production occupations. Verify the LCA your employer submitted uses SOC 51-9041, or the prevailing wage floor on your petition may not match what DOL sets for this specific forming and compacting role.
Watch California metro wage spreads
Modesto and Stockton post substantially higher Level 3 and Level 4 floors than most U.S. metros for this occupation. If your worksite is in the Central Valley, confirm the LCA lists that specific metro, not a statewide or national wage, which would significantly understate your floor.
Exclude shift differentials from your base wage calculation
Many forming and compacting roles include overnight or weekend shift premiums. DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on the base hourly or annualized salary only. Shift pay, production bonuses, and overtime do not count toward meeting the floor on your LCA.
Search Migrate Mate for employers with sponsorship history
Extruder Operator and Extrusion Operator roles sponsored under H-1B are concentrated in specific manufacturing employers. Migrate Mate shows which companies have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can focus applications on employers already familiar with the LCA and petition process.
Jobs for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Extruder OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9041.00 alongside Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Extruder Operator Prevailing Wage
Extruder Operator Prevailing Wage
Extruder Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Extrusion Operator Prevailing Wage
Extrusion Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Extrusion Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Glass Forming Crew Member Prevailing Wage
Glass Forming Crew Member Prevailing Wage
Glass Forming Crew Member is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Press Operator Prevailing Wage
Press Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Press Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tuber Operator Prevailing Wage
Tuber Operator Prevailing Wage
Tuber Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9041.00 (Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Extruder Operator roles?
DOL derives prevailing wages for SOC 51-9041 from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These surveys collect actual wage data from employers across hundreds of metro areas. OFLC then publishes four wage levels for each area, and employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the level matching the position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 covers independent qualified operation, which is where most Extrusion Operator filings land. Level 3 applies to experienced workers with training or lead responsibilities. Level 4 is for senior operators with full production oversight. Your employer determines the level based on the actual job duties, not your personal experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Extruder Operator role vary so much by city?
DOL sets wages using regional OES surveys, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions. A forming machine operator role in Portland, ME or Modesto, CA commands a higher floor than the same title in El Paso, TX or San Juan, PR because local employer competition and cost structures differ. Critically, the LCA must list the actual worksite city, so a petition filed on a low-cost metro wage but placed at a higher-cost worksite violates DOL rules.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the certified level and worksite, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which blocks the H-1B or PERM petition entirely. USCIS also reviews wage compliance during adjudication. An employer who submits an LCA with a wage below the floor risks denial, audit, and potential debarment. The offer must meet the floor before the petition is filed, not after.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Extruder Operator position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-9041 by metro area. Enter the worksite city or county, select the correct OES wage survey year your employer is using, and confirm both the level and the annualized floor. For roles already in hiring, Migrate Mate lets you filter by location and see which employers have sponsored Extruder Operator and related titles, giving you context on what sponsored offers typically look like in that market.
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