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

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $50,140 Median per year · $24.10/hr Most earn $37,690–$70,310

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces.
  • Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines.
  • Direct and train other workers to change rolls, operate mill equipment, remove coils and cobbles, and band and load material.
  • Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives.
  • Direct and train other workers to change rolls, operate mill equipment, remove coils and cobbles, and band and load material.
  • Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures.

Job outlook

United States
8% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing31.9%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing14.3%
  • Steel product manufacturing from purchased steel11.2%
  • Alumina and aluminum production and processing8.9%
  • Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing5.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. You can often start with a high school diploma, and most people get ready for it with about 1 to 3 months of related work before they learn the rolling machines on the job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong math and hands-on shop classes, which build the measuring and machine skills this job uses.

  2. Machine Feeder or Production Helper

    1-3 months

    Start in a factory or plant role that feeds materials into machines and helps keep the line running, so you learn plant routines and safety.

  3. Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender, Metal and Plastic

    Learned on the job after about 1-3 months of prior work

    Learn to set up and run rolling machines that shape metal or plastic, checking the product against specifications as you work.

Where it can lead

  1. Multiple Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    You learn to set up and run several different machine types, which makes you more flexible on the production floor.

  2. Cutting Press Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    Move into setting up and running cutting or press machines, which requires more experience with tooling and precision work.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, metalworking, or machining classesHands-on time with tools and machines gives you a head start on how factory equipment works.
  • Build strong math skills in algebra and geometryMeasuring, reading specifications, and checking tolerances all rely on these skills.
  • Get a part-time or summer job in a warehouse or factoryEven a basic job teaches plant routines, teamwork, and workplace safety, which employers value.
  • Join a robotics, engineering, or career-technical clubBuilding and fixing things with a team shows you enjoy technical work and gives you something to talk about in job interviews.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyKnowing how to keep yourself safe around moving machines is important for any machine job.

In college

  • Take manufacturing or industrial technology coursesCommunity college courses in manufacturing processes or machine operation build the knowledge that helps you get hired in production work.
  • Learn basic CNC and computer controlsMany modern rolling machines use digital controls, so basic computer and CNC skills make you more useful to employers.
  • Get a campus or summer job in a production settingWorking on a production line shows you can handle machine-paced work and follow procedures.
  • Complete an OSHA general industry safety courseA recognized safety certificate shows employers you understand plant hazards and rules, which is valuable for machine operators.
  • Join a technical or manufacturing student clubClubs like SkillsUSA-style groups, where offered, help you build teamwork and practical skills and meet people in the industry.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local manufacturer or staffing agency whether they hire for entry-level machine feeder or production helper roles, and mention you want to learn the machines.
  • Practice reading rulers, tape measures, and simple gauges, since rolling work depends on checking measurements carefully.
  • Show you are reliable: attendance, following safety rules, and asking questions are what supervisors notice first in plant jobs.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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