Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC code 51-4023 · O*NET-SOC 51-4023.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$50,140
a year
Hourly
$24.10
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$53,220
$25.59 per hour
Middle 50%
$44,020 – $61,880
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$37,690 – $70,310
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
25,250
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $37,690
- $18.12/hr
- 25th percentile
- $44,020
- $21.16/hr
- Median percentile
- $50,140
- $24.10/hr
- 75th percentile
- $61,880
- $29.75/hr
- 90th percentile
- $70,310
- $33.80/hr
What do rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 74% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)74%
- Less than a High School Diploma13%
- Some College Courses10%
- Post-Secondary Certificate3%
Common questions
How much does a rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?
The national median is $50,140 a year. The full range runs from $37,690 at the 10th percentile to $70,310 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Speaking3.3/5
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical3.9/5
- Production and Processing3.5/5
- English Language3.4/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.6/5
- Engineering and Technology2.6/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination.