Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.
Median pay: $50,140/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -8.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 1,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications.
• Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects.
• Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips.
• Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
• Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures.
• Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms.
• Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.
• Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers.
What's the median pay for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
The median pay for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $50,140 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Employment for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to change -8.3% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
About 1,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.