Factory machinery

How to become an extrusion operator

Official title: Extrusion operator

Also called: Extruding machine operator, Extruder operator, Plastics technician, Thermoforming machine operator, Production machine operator

Extrusion operators use extrusion machines to turn plastic, metal and other materials into processed shapes and forms.

Main tasks

Operate extrusion machines to shape materials
Select machine and tools for each job
Set machine settings
Mount dies and attachments onto machines
Adjust temperatures for smooth extrusion
Inspect finished products
Package finished products
Clean work areas and equipment

How to become one

You usually learn on the job to become an extrusion operator and experience or a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 2 to do the study or training for this job. Other requirements: a New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3); a New Zealand Certificate in Plastics Processing (Level 3); a New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing (Level 3); a New Zealand Certificate in Plastics Processing (Level 4); experience in similar work; a driver licence with a forklift (F) endorsement; to pass a drug test; to pass a police check.

See the full Tahatū profile

Ways in

Certificates and diplomas: Entry certificates in manufacturing engineering. TEC links this job to study in manufacturing engineering and technology. Qualifications: NZ Cert in Manufacturing. Usually 4 months. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $36,000 a year one year after study; 27% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).; Entry certificates in mechanical engineering. TEC links this job to study in mechanical and industrial engineering and technology. Qualifications: NZ Cert in Mechanical Engineering. Usually 1 year. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $51,000 a year one year after study and $62,000 five years after; 67% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).

Pay · Past change

Most common pay: $60,000 to $105,000 a year (median $76,000), a TEC estimate before tax.
Lower: $51,000 a year · Upper: $135,000 a year
TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
Change in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses: Strong increase (TEC). This is past change, not a forecast.

Who does this work

About 860 people did this job at the 2023 Census (TEC).

Questions people ask

How do I become an extrusion operator?

How much does an extrusion operator earn in New Zealand?

The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $76,000 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $60,000 to $105,000 a year.

Has the number of people working as an extrusion operator grown in New Zealand?

It has grown strongly: TEC records a strong increase in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. This is past change, not a forecast.

Sources

Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.

Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.

This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.

These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.

Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.

Updated 4 October 2026