How to become a rolling machine setter, 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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do

• 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.

Skills that matter most

• Monitoring
• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies
• Writing

Is rolling machine setter, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 2% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Iowa $72,670
• Pennsylvania $66,970
• Vermont $66,240
• Washington $63,560
• Maryland $61,470

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.