Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
What Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisMonitoringSpeakingCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$39,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$45,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$52,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$64,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$73,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-8.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,900
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Primary Metal Manufacturing
14,660 workers
$58,000
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing
8,050 workers
$58,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
4,470 workers
$51,000
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel
2,840 workers
$55,000
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing
2,250 workers
$60,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
2,140 workers
$51,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
1,570 workers
$55,000
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing
1,490 workers
$58,500
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
1,480 workers
$44,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
1,460 workers
$47,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pays 2% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $55,000 per year, or about $26.44 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $45,500 and $64,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
