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Synthetic & Glass Machine Operator

💰 Earn $40K-$53K
📚 High School Diploma or GED
⏱️ 6–12 Month Training
📈 -1.1% Job Growth
  • Craft essential materials for industries from aerospace to textiles.
  • Play a key role in producing fibers that shape modern technology and innovation.
  • Operate machines that transform liquid polymers into versatile, durable filaments.
Synthetic & Glass Machine Operator
What Synthetic & Glass Machine Operators DoSet up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
  • Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers.
  • Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected.
  • Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines.
  • Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators.
  • Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates.
Synthetic & Glass Machine Operators Education, Salary, and Growth
Minimum EducationHigh School Diploma or GED
Career ProspectsShaky (Decreasing by 1-5%)
Training Time6 months to 1 year
Job Openings2,000 Annually
Median Earnings
$47,310 in California
$44,980 Nationally

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Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
  • Working with my hands
you value
  • Having support
  • Having freedom
  • Personal relationships
you are skilled in
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Quality Control Analysis
Go Deeper: Synthetic & Glass Machine Operators Explained
Synthetic & Glass Machine OperatorExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
Workforce Development ProgramA workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years
Strategic EmploymentStrategic employment provides individuals with valuable work experience, opportunities for professional growth and networking, and exposure to an industry where they may want to pursue advancement.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 1-3 years
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What Are Similar Careers?

Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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