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Production

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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Median pay

$48,630
Median annual pay for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-8.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

1,900
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

22,500
Estimated U.S. employment for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-1,900
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Monitoring
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Active Listening
  4. 4Critical Thinking
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Reading Comprehension

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Mechanical
  2. 2Production and Processing
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Education and Training
  5. 5Administration and Management
  6. 6Customer and Personal Service

Abilities

  1. 1Problem Sensitivity
  2. 2Control Precision
  3. 3Near Vision
  4. 4Reaction Time
  5. 5Rate Control
  6. 6Manual Dexterity

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Investigative
  4. 4Artistic
  5. 5Social
  6. 6Enterprising

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Cautiousness
  4. 4Achievement Orientation
  5. 5Stress Tolerance
  6. 6Self-Control

Work activities

  1. 1Controlling Machines and Processes
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  4. 4Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  5. 5Handling and Moving Objects
  6. 6Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Work context

  1. 1Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  2. 2Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  3. 3Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  4. 4Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  5. 5Contact With Others
  6. 6Time Pressure

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Email softwareWeb browser software

The short answer

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 measurable national baseline is $48,630 median annual pay, -8.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034, and 1,900 projected openings per year. Use these figures as a national benchmark rather than a personal forecast; location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours can change individual outcomes.

Pay and the size of the opportunity

The national median-pay figure for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $48,630. Current employment is 22,500, with projected 2034 employment of 20,600. Pay describes the middle worker nationally, not a guaranteed starting salary, and the employment totals describe the occupation's scale rather than the number of jobs available to one applicant.

Demand, growth, and annual openings

BLS projects -8.3% employment growth for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic from 2024 to 2034 and about 1,900 openings per year. Growth measures whether the occupation is expanding, while annual openings also include replacement needs created when workers retire, change occupations, or leave the labor force.

Education and preparation

The typical BLS entry-education category is High school diploma or equivalent. Related work experience is None, and the listed on-the-job training category is Moderate-term on-the-job training. These categories summarize a national pathway; licensing, certification, portfolios, apprenticeships, or local employer requirements may add to it.

What the work involves

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.

A representative O*NET task is: Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications. The broader activity profile emphasizes Controlling Machines and Processes, Getting Information, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials.

Skills, knowledge, and tools

The strongest available O*NET skill signals are Monitoring, Speaking, Active Listening. Leading knowledge areas are Mechanical, Production and Processing, English Language. These are national occupational signals, so a specific employer may emphasize a different mix. Examples of software or tools associated with the occupation include Email software, Web browser software.

Common questions

What is the median pay for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

The national median annual pay in the current dataset is $48,630. Actual pay varies by location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Is demand growing for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

BLS projects -8.3% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 1,900 openings per year. Openings include both newly created positions and replacement demand.

What education is needed for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

The typical BLS entry-education category is High school diploma or equivalent. Related experience, on-the-job training, licensing, or certification requirements may also apply.

What does Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic involve?

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.

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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