Life As a Rolling Machine Operator

Occupation Description 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.

Daily Life Of a Rolling Machine Operator

• Record mill production on schedule sheets.
• Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
• Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips.
• Direct and train other workers to change rolls, operate mill equipment, remove coils and cobbles, and band and load material.
• Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms.
• Fill oil cups, adjust valves, and observe gauges to control flow of metal coolants and lubricants onto workpieces.

What Every Rolling Machine Operator Should Know

When polled, Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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

• Cold Roll Operator
• Roll Forming Machine Set Up Operator
• Reeling Machine Setup Operator
• Spline Rolling Machine Job Setter
• Cold Headerman

Rolling Machine Operator Employment Estimates

There were about 29,000 jobs for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2016 (in the United States).

Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender jobs are decreasing by a rate of -12.9%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -3,700 jobs for Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.

Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Indiana, or Michigan. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Rolling Machine Operator Salary

The average yearly salary of a Rolling Machine Operator ranges between $25,720 and $60,640. The median salary for this occupation is $38,650.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Connecticut	$53,290
Nevada	$50,430
South Carolina	$48,520
Washington	$47,410
Indiana	$46,480
Louisiana	$45,800
Virginia	$44,930
New York	$43,580
Missouri	$43,270
California	$43,010
Oregon	$42,760
Colorado	$42,680
Pennsylvania	$42,290
Illinois	$42,190
Kansas	$41,550
Utah	$41,170
Massachusetts	$41,120
Maryland	$40,900
Minnesota	$40,770
Rhode Island	$40,540
Ohio	$40,290
Michigan	$40,090
Wisconsin	$39,990
North Carolina	$39,730
Iowa	$39,410
Tennessee	$38,980
South Dakota	$38,860
Arkansas	$38,630
West Virginia	$38,280
Nebraska	$37,850
New Jersey	$36,410
New Hampshire	$35,770
Florida	$35,640
Georgia	$35,310
Oklahoma	$35,250
Texas	$34,710
Mississippi	$32,410
Arizona	$31,770
Alabama	$31,700

What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

• Data entry software

How do I Become a Rolling Machine Operator?

What education or degrees do I need to become a Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Are Employed

Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender may also be interested in:

• Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
• Highway Maintenance Workers

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons