Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4023) earn a median $50,140 a year ($24.10 an hour) in the United States, with 25,250 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Iowa.
What rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders run machines in which metal or plastic is squeezed between rollers to flatten it, reduce its thickness, form it into plate or strip, or add bends, beads, and knurls. The operator reads rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules for dimensions and work sequence, adjusts the roll gap and the speeds of the mechanisms, and starts the line. During operation, they watch dial indicators and the material itself, looking for jamming and checking that products conform to specifications. Measuring the stock before and after the pass confirms that thickness and shape are within specification, and the setup is corrected to remove defects. Draft space and roll speed are worked out stand by stand to plan the rolling sequence and set the dimensions and tempers. These workers differ from forging operators, who pound or press individual parts, and from extrusion operators, who push material through a die.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Bar Finish Operator, Bar Roller, Barrel Roller, Barrel Roller Operator, Bed Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.12 | $21.16 | $24.10 | $29.75 | $33.80 | $25.59 | 25,250 |
| Annual | $37,690 | $44,020 | $50,140 | $61,880 | $70,310 | $53,220 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $23.36 | $28.22 | $34.94 | $34.94 | $34.94 | $31.54 | 660 | 0.42 | 2.59 |
| Annual | $48,580 | $58,700 | $72,670 | $72,670 | $72,670 | $65,600 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $23.19 | $26.12 | $32.20 | $33.29 | $33.80 | $29.92 | 3,070 | 0.51 | 3.12 |
| Annual | $48,240 | $54,330 | $66,970 | $69,240 | $70,310 | $62,240 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $21.22 | $25.68 | $31.85 | $37.89 | $37.89 | $30.50 | 40 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $44,130 | $53,420 | $66,240 | $78,810 | $78,810 | $63,440 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.57 | $22.63 | $30.56 | $42.52 | $50.69 | $32.86 | 350 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $38,630 | $47,070 | $63,560 | $88,450 | $105,440 | $68,340 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $23.28 | $28.09 | $29.55 | $30.96 | $30.96 | $28.68 | 310 | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $48,420 | $58,430 | $61,470 | $64,410 | $64,410 | $59,640 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $23.19 | $26.12 | $32.20 | $33.29 | $33.80 | $29.92 | 3,070 | 0.51 | 3.12 |
| Annual | $48,240 | $54,330 | $66,970 | $69,240 | $70,310 | $62,240 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $17.72 | $19.79 | $21.84 | $27.00 | $30.89 | $23.41 | 2,750 | 0.86 | 5.29 |
| Annual | $36,860 | $41,160 | $45,430 | $56,160 | $64,240 | $48,680 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $18.83 | $24.15 | $25.67 | $35.52 | $37.68 | $28.83 | 1,710 | 0.81 | 4.99 |
| Annual | $39,170 | $50,240 | $53,380 | $73,880 | $78,370 | $59,960 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.12 | $19.88 | $23.88 | $28.03 | $36.41 | $24.83 | 1,680 | 0.12 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $35,600 | $41,340 | $49,660 | $58,300 | $75,730 | $51,650 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.06 | $19.20 | $21.20 | $28.13 | $30.30 | $23.20 | 1,480 | 0.34 | 2.07 |
| Annual | $37,570 | $39,940 | $44,090 | $58,510 | $63,020 | $48,250 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Decatur, AL | Hourly | $18.10 | $22.94 | $55.03 | $63.07 | $63.07 | $42.73 | 70 | 1.18 | 7.27 |
| Annual | $37,650 | $47,710 | $114,470 | $131,190 | $131,190 | $88,880 | ||||
| Reading, PA | Hourly | $24.42 | $32.17 | $33.80 | $33.80 | $33.80 | $32.16 | 670 | 3.83 | 23.60 |
| Annual | $50,790 | $66,910 | $70,310 | $70,310 | $70,310 | $66,900 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $24.03 | $28.39 | $33.25 | $33.27 | $33.29 | $30.32 | 1,260 | 1.14 | 6.99 |
| Annual | $49,990 | $59,040 | $69,150 | $69,200 | $69,240 | $63,060 | ||||
| Jackson, TN | Hourly | $17.35 | $22.40 | $30.72 | $30.72 | $37.15 | $26.51 | 40 | 0.53 | 3.24 |
| Annual | $36,080 | $46,590 | $63,900 | $63,900 | $77,280 | $55,140 | ||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $19.29 | $19.29 | $30.39 | $30.46 | $37.68 | $27.42 | 70 | 0.24 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $40,130 | $40,130 | $63,210 | $63,360 | $78,370 | $57,030 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.74 | $21.84 | $23.96 | $30.67 | $31.31 | $25.99 | 1,300 | 0.29 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $45,230 | $45,430 | $49,850 | $63,790 | $65,120 | $54,060 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $24.03 | $28.39 | $33.25 | $33.27 | $33.29 | $30.32 | 1,260 | 1.14 | 6.99 |
| Annual | $49,990 | $59,040 | $69,150 | $69,200 | $69,240 | $63,060 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $13.04 | $19.74 | $22.95 | $28.63 | $29.05 | $22.88 | 730 | 0.25 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $27,130 | $41,060 | $47,730 | $59,540 | $60,430 | $47,580 | ||||
| Reading, PA | Hourly | $24.42 | $32.17 | $33.80 | $33.80 | $33.80 | $32.16 | 670 | 3.83 | 23.60 |
| Annual | $50,790 | $66,910 | $70,310 | $70,310 | $70,310 | $66,900 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.12 | $19.27 | $23.12 | $29.98 | $36.35 | $25.98 | 570 | 0.09 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $37,690 | $40,080 | $48,080 | $62,360 | $75,610 | $54,030 | ||||
Top industries employing rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing employ 31.9% of rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationally (8,050 jobs) at a median $54,680 a year ($26.29 an hour), followed by Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (11.2%) and Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing (8.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing NAICS 331100 | 8,050 | 31.9% | $54,680 | $26.29 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel NAICS 331200 | 2,840 | 11.2% | $49,680 | $23.88 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing NAICS 331300 | 2,250 | 8.9% | $56,650 | $27.24 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 2,140 | 8.5% | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing NAICS 331400 | 1,490 | 5.9% | $56,030 | $26.94 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (25,250). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,210 for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in May 2021 and $50,140 in May 2025, with employment of 31,650 and 25,250.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,210 | $22.22 | 31,650 |
| May 2022 | $46,310 | $22.26 | 27,900 |
| May 2023 | $47,040 | $22.61 | 24,750 |
| May 2024 | $48,630 | $23.38 | 22,350 |
| May 2025 | $50,140 | $24.10 | 25,250 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
39 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa profile | $34.94 | $72,670 | $48,580 | $72,670 | 660 | 0.42 | 2.59 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania profile | $32.20 | $66,970 | $48,240 | $70,310 | 3,070 | 0.51 | 3.12 |
| 3 | Vermont profile | $31.85 | $66,240 | $44,130 | $78,810 | 40 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $30.56 | $63,560 | $38,630 | $105,440 | 350 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $29.55 | $61,470 | $48,420 | $64,410 | 310 | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| 6 | New York profile | $29.27 | $60,890 | $47,110 | $99,810 | 420 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $29.15 | $60,620 | $36,030 | $65,310 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.11 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $29.14 | $60,610 | $40,130 | $73,820 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.54 |
| 9 | New Hampshire profile | $29.12 | $60,570 | $46,890 | $74,440 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.37 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $27.64 | $57,500 | $38,760 | $65,420 | 110 | 0.04 | 0.24 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $26.05 | $54,180 | $37,360 | $62,980 | 550 | 0.09 | 0.56 |
| 12 | Alabama profile | $25.67 | $53,380 | $39,170 | $78,370 | 1,710 | 0.81 | 4.99 |
| 13 | Wisconsin profile | $24.70 | $51,370 | $39,810 | $71,820 | 290 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| 14 | Kentucky profile | $24.23 | $50,400 | $38,530 | $60,560 | 1,120 | 0.56 | 3.46 |
| 15 | Oregon profile | $24.23 | $50,400 | $40,150 | $85,510 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.44 |
| 16 | Ohio profile | $24.05 | $50,030 | $39,220 | $67,640 | 1,310 | 0.24 | 1.45 |
| 17 | Louisiana profile | $24.00 | $49,920 | $37,980 | $80,520 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.35 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $23.88 | $49,660 | $35,600 | $75,730 | 1,680 | 0.12 | 0.74 |
| 19 | Tennessee profile | $23.34 | $48,540 | $31,690 | $71,860 | 1,290 | 0.39 | 2.42 |
| 20 | North Carolina profile | $23.29 | $48,450 | $36,260 | $65,730 | 510 | 0.10 | 0.64 |
| 21 | Oklahoma profile | $23.24 | $48,330 | $34,670 | $57,420 | 290 | 0.17 | 1.04 |
| 22 | South Carolina profile | $23.18 | $48,210 | $38,840 | $64,000 | 820 | 0.36 | 2.19 |
| 23 | California profile | $23.10 | $48,040 | $37,690 | $75,570 | 1,150 | 0.06 | 0.39 |
| 24 | Massachusetts profile | $22.99 | $47,830 | $39,260 | $61,690 | 480 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $22.99 | $47,820 | $38,850 | $65,860 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.20 |
| 26 | Utah profile | $22.86 | $47,540 | $40,980 | $85,740 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.22 |
| 27 | Missouri profile | $22.79 | $47,390 | $31,400 | $56,970 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.38 |
| 28 | New Jersey profile | $22.59 | $46,980 | $38,500 | $76,740 | 250 | 0.06 | 0.36 |
| 29 | Florida profile | $22.51 | $46,810 | $35,690 | $78,580 | 310 | 0.03 | 0.19 |
| 30 | Virginia profile | $22.33 | $46,450 | $37,800 | $64,180 | 450 | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| 31 | South Dakota profile | $22.13 | $46,040 | $38,400 | $52,900 | 70 | 0.16 | 0.96 |
| 32 | Arkansas profile | $22.06 | $45,890 | $39,560 | $69,460 | 420 | 0.33 | 2.01 |
| 33 | Nebraska profile | $22.02 | $45,800 | $33,790 | $57,130 | 230 | 0.22 | 1.38 |
| 34 | Indiana profile | $21.84 | $45,430 | $36,860 | $64,240 | 2,750 | 0.86 | 5.29 |
| 35 | Georgia profile | $21.66 | $45,050 | $27,130 | $60,430 | 1,070 | 0.22 | 1.35 |
| 36 | Michigan profile | $21.20 | $44,090 | $37,570 | $63,020 | 1,480 | 0.34 | 2.07 |
| 37 | North Dakota profile | $20.90 | $43,480 | $43,370 | $49,510 | 150 | 0.34 | 2.10 |
| 38 | Kansas profile | $19.36 | $40,260 | $33,650 | $56,080 | 170 | 0.12 | 0.74 |
| 39 | Mississippi profile | $18.90 | $39,320 | $31,670 | $55,080 | 230 | 0.20 | 1.23 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4023 Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4023.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.