Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Career, Salary and Skills
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $50,140 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 25,250. Wage data is published for 104 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
51-4023.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$50,140
Hourly median
$24.10
Employment
25,250
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$37,690
10th
$44,020
25th
$50,140
Median
$61,880
75th
$70,310
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Operation and Control | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 2.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces.
Technology
- Email software
- Web browser software
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in PAMedian $66,970 · Employment 3,070
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in INMedian $45,430 · Employment 2,750
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in ALMedian $53,380 · Employment 1,710
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in TXMedian $49,660 · Employment 1,680
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in MIMedian $44,090 · Employment 1,480
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in OHMedian $50,030 · Employment 1,310
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $49,850 · Employment 1,300
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in TNMedian $48,540 · Employment 1,290
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Pittsburgh, PAMedian $69,150 · Employment 1,260
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in CAMedian $48,040 · Employment 1,150
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in KYMedian $50,400 · Employment 1,120
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in GAMedian $45,050 · Employment 1,070
Related careers
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $48,540
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $38,760
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $44,350
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $47,720
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $50,270
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersNational median $46,350
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $49,030
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.