Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,140 | $24.10 |
| Mean (average) | $53,220 | $25.59 |
| 90th percentile | $70,310 | $33.80 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,380 | $39,170 | $78,370 | 1,710 | 4.99 |
| Arizona | $47,820 | $38,850 | $65,860 | 110 | 0.2 |
| Arkansas | $45,890 | $39,560 | $69,460 | 420 | 2.01 |
| California | $48,040 | $37,690 | $75,570 | 1,150 | 0.39 |
| Colorado | $57,500 | $38,760 | $65,420 | 110 | 0.24 |
| Connecticut | $60,610 | $40,130 | $73,820 | 150 | 0.54 |
| Florida | $46,810 | $35,690 | $78,580 | 310 | 0.19 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | $27,130 | $60,430 | 1,070 | 1.35 |
| Illinois | $54,180 | $37,360 | $62,980 | 550 | 0.56 |
| Indiana | $45,430 | $36,860 | $64,240 | 2,750 | 5.29 |
| Iowa | $72,670 | $48,580 | $72,670 | 660 | 2.59 |
| Kansas | $40,260 | $33,650 | $56,080 | 170 | 0.74 |
| Kentucky | $50,400 | $38,530 | $60,560 | 1,120 | 3.46 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | $37,980 | $80,520 | 110 | 0.35 |
| Maryland | $61,470 | $48,420 | $64,410 | 310 | 0.68 |
| Massachusetts | $47,830 | $39,260 | $61,690 | 480 | 0.81 |
| Michigan | $44,090 | $37,570 | $63,020 | 1,480 | 2.07 |
| Minnesota | $60,620 | $36,030 | $65,310 | 50 | 0.11 |
| Mississippi | $39,320 | $31,670 | $55,080 | 230 | 1.23 |
| Missouri | $47,390 | $31,400 | $56,970 | 180 | 0.38 |
| Nebraska | $45,800 | $33,790 | $57,130 | 230 | 1.38 |
| New Hampshire | $60,570 | $46,890 | $74,440 | 40 | 0.37 |
| New Jersey | $46,980 | $38,500 | $76,740 | 250 | 0.36 |
| New York | $60,890 | $47,110 | $99,810 | 420 | 0.27 |
| North Carolina | $48,450 | $36,260 | $65,730 | 510 | 0.64 |
| North Dakota | $43,480 | $43,370 | $49,510 | 150 | 2.1 |
| Ohio | $50,030 | $39,220 | $67,640 | 1,310 | 1.45 |
| Oklahoma | $48,330 | $34,670 | $57,420 | 290 | 1.04 |
| Oregon | $50,400 | $40,150 | $85,510 | 140 | 0.44 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,970 | $48,240 | $70,310 | 3,070 | 3.12 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,650 | $22,150 | $30,610 | 170 | 1.13 |
| South Carolina | $48,210 | $38,840 | $64,000 | 820 | 2.19 |
| South Dakota | $46,040 | $38,400 | $52,900 | 70 | 0.96 |
| Tennessee | $48,540 | $31,690 | $71,860 | 1,290 | 2.42 |
| Texas | $49,660 | $35,600 | $75,730 | 1,680 | 0.74 |
| Utah | $47,540 | $40,980 | $85,740 | 60 | 0.22 |
| Vermont | $66,240 | $44,130 | $78,810 | 40 | 0.79 |
| Virginia | $46,450 | $37,800 | $64,180 | 450 | 0.67 |
| Washington | $63,560 | $38,630 | $105,440 | 350 | 0.6 |
| Wisconsin | $51,370 | $39,810 | $71,820 | 290 | 0.6 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist CIP 48.0501
- Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking CIP 48.0506
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
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.
- Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers.
Technology skills
- Email software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Maintenance.
Common job titles: Breakdown Mill Operator, Calender Operator, Cold Mill Operator, Machine Operator, Mill Operator, Rolling Mill Operator, Roughing Mill Operator, Temper Mill Operator, Tube Mill Operator, Weld Mill Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
The national median annual wage for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic was $50,140 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,690 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $70,310. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?
BLS projects employment of rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to change -8.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Iowa ($72,670), Pennsylvania ($66,970), Vermont ($66,240). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.