Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median salary of $48,630 per year, ranking in the top 67% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -8.3% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

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

The median annual wage for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $48,630. That puts rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at #539 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is -8.3%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 22K positions in 2024 to 20K in 2034, a net change of -2K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects.
2. 2.Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives.
3. 3.Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces.
4. 4.Record mill production on schedule sheets.
5. 5.Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips.
6. 6.Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications.
7. 7.Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
8. 8.Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.

Top skills for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic