Life As a Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
Career 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.
Life As a Rolling Machine Operator: What Do They Do?
- Remove scratches and polish roll surfaces, using polishing stones and electric buffers.
- Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
- Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives.
- Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
- Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.
- Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers.
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Rolling Machine Operator Needed Skills
Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Manipulator Operator
- Cold Rolling Coordinator
- Tube Mill Operator
- Caster Operator
- Cold Headerman
Are There Job Opportunities for Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
There were about 29,000 jobs for Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender. The BLS estimates 2,300 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Rolling Machine Operator are South Dakota, Georgia, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Virginia, Massachusetts, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?
Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make between $25,720 and $60,640 a year.

Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Nevada, South Carolina, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $31,700 |
Arizona | $31,770 |
Arkansas | $38,630 |
California | $43,010 |
Colorado | $42,680 |
Connecticut | $53,290 |
Florida | $35,640 |
Georgia | $35,310 |
Illinois | $42,190 |
Indiana | $46,480 |
Iowa | $39,410 |
Kansas | $41,550 |
Louisiana | $45,800 |
Maryland | $40,900 |
Massachusetts | $41,120 |
Michigan | $40,090 |
Minnesota | $40,770 |
Mississippi | $32,410 |
Missouri | $43,270 |
Nebraska | $37,850 |
Nevada | $50,430 |
New Hampshire | $35,770 |
New Jersey | $36,410 |
New York | $43,580 |
North Carolina | $39,730 |
Ohio | $40,290 |
Oklahoma | $35,250 |
Oregon | $42,760 |
Pennsylvania | $42,290 |
Rhode Island | $40,540 |
South Carolina | $48,520 |
South Dakota | $38,860 |
Tennessee | $38,980 |
Texas | $34,710 |
Utah | $41,170 |
Virginia | $44,930 |
Washington | $47,410 |
West Virginia | $38,280 |
Wisconsin | $39,990 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
How to Become a Rolling Machine Operator
What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?

What work experience do I need to become a Rolling Machine Operator?

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

The table below shows the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.

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Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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