Rolling Machine Setters, 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.

Also called: Breakdown Mill Operator, Calender Operator, Cold Mill Operator, Machine Operator, Mill Operator, Rolling Mill Operator, Roughing Mill Operator, Temper Mill Operator, Tube Mill Operator, Weld Mill Operator, Bar Finish Operator, Bar Roller, Barrel Roller, Barrel Roller Operator, Bed Operator, Brass Roller, Breakdown Coordinator, Breakdown Operator, Bulldogger, Caster Operator, Coiler Operator, Cold Form Operator, Cold Headerman, Cold Reduction Roller, Cold Roll Catcher, Cold Roll Operator, Cold Roller, Cold Rolling Coordinator, Cold Strip Feeder, Cold Strip Roller, Cold-Mill Operator, Cold-Rolling Machine Setter, Delivery Table Operator, Drum Straightener, Embossing Tool Setter, Entry Table Operator, Finish Rolls Operator, Finisher, First Leveler, Flange Machine Operator, Flanger, Flat Breakdown Processor, Forming Operator, Forming Roll Operator, Forming Specialist, Foundry Processor, Guide Setter, High Speed Operator, Hot Mill Operator, Hot Mill Roller, Hot Mill Tin Roller, Hot Roller, Hot Strip Finisher, Hotbed Lever Operator, Hotbed Operator, Leveler, Mangle Roll Operator, Mangle Roller, Mangler, Manipulator, Manipulator Operator, Medart Operator, Metal Sheet Roller Operator, Mill Control Operator, Milling Operator, Mold Operator, Parts Finisher, Piercing Machine Operator, Piercing Mill Operator, Pipe Straightener, Plastic Straightening Roll Operator, Polishing Operator, Primary Mill Roller, Primary Operator, Reducing Machine Operator, Reel Operator, Reeling Machine Operator, Reeling Machine Setup Operator, Rip Operator, Rod Finisher, Roll Forming Machine Operator, Roll Forming Machine Set Up Mechanic, Roll Forming Machine Set Up Operator, Roll Forming Machine Set-Up Mechanic, Roll Forming Operator, Roll Operator, Roll Over Press Operator, Roll Setter, Roll Table Operator, Roll Threader Operator, Roll Tube Setter, Roller, Roller Leveler, Roller Leveler Operator, Roller Machine Operator, Rolling Attendant, Rolls Mill Operator, Rougher, Rougher Operator, Scarfer, Screwdown Operator, Scroll Machine Operator, Seam Hammerer, Seamless Tube Roller, Setter, Sheet Roller Operator, Skelp Processor, Skin Pass Operator, Small Brake Form Operator, Spanner Operator, Speed Operator, Spline Rolling Machine Job Setter, Stainless Steel Finisher, Steel Finisher, Steel Roller, Straightening Roll Operator, Strip Mill Operator, Strip Roller, Table Lever Operator, Table Operator, Table Runner, Tandem Mill Operator, Tank Hoop Bender, Threader Operator, Tube Roller, Tubing Machine Operator, Vacuum Form Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
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.
Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools.
Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Monitoring
Speaking
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Learning
Coordination
Complex Problem Solving
Equipment Maintenance

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (74.21% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

44,020–61,880 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4023.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop die setup, press troubleshooting, tooling, and process-control experience; explore senior setup or team-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (74.21% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

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