51 Series · SOC 51-4023
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $50,140
- Median / year
- $70,310
- Top 10% earn
- -8.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 25,250
- US workers
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $50,140 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $50,140, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,690 (10th percentile) to $70,310 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 25,250 US workers. Iowa pays the most ($72,670), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $50,140, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 33% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #35 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 8.3% by 2033.
- $50,140
- Median annual wage
- Top 67%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #35 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Iowa at $72,670. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4023) pays a national median of $50,140 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $37,690 at the 10th percentile to $70,310 at the 90th, with a mean of $53,220 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 25,250 Americans work in this occupation across 40 reporting states and 88 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -8.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Iowa pays the highest state median at $72,670, which is +45% above the national figure. The top metro is Decatur, AL at $114,470 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$50,140
per year
Median Hourly
$24.10/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$53,220
average
Employment
25,250
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$50,140 Bottom 33% higher than 33% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits on the slower-growing side at -8.3% growth and $50,140 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-8.3%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
- ▸ 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.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$37,690
25th Percentile
$44,020
Median
$50,140
75th Percentile
$61,880
90th Percentile
$70,310
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 40 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $72,670 | +45% above national |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $66,970 | +34% above national |
| 3 | Vermont | $66,240 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $63,560 | +27% above national |
| 5 | Maryland | $61,470 | +23% above national |
| 6 | New York | $60,890 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Minnesota | $60,620 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $60,610 | +21% above national |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $60,570 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Colorado | $57,500 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Illinois | $54,180 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Alabama | $53,380 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $51,370 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Kentucky | $50,400 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Oregon | $50,400 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Ohio | $50,030 | same as national |
| 17 | Louisiana | $49,920 | same as national |
| 18 | Texas | $49,660 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Tennessee | $48,540 | 3% below national |
| 20 | North Carolina | $48,450 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $48,330 | 4% below national |
| 22 | South Carolina | $48,210 | 4% below national |
| 23 | California | $48,040 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $47,830 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Arizona | $47,820 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Utah | $47,540 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Missouri | $47,390 | 5% below national |
| 28 | New Jersey | $46,980 | 6% below national |
| 29 | Florida | $46,810 | 7% below national |
| 30 | Virginia | $46,450 | 7% below national |
| 31 | South Dakota | $46,040 | 8% below national |
| 32 | Arkansas | $45,890 | 8% below national |
| 33 | Nebraska | $45,800 | 9% below national |
| 34 | Indiana | $45,430 | 9% below national |
| 35 | Georgia | $45,050 | 10% below national |
| 36 | Michigan | $44,090 | 12% below national |
| 37 | North Dakota | $43,480 | 13% below national |
| 38 | Kansas | $40,260 | 20% below national |
| 39 | Mississippi | $39,320 | 22% below national |
| 40 | Puerto Rico | $22,650 | 55% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 88 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur, AL | $114,470 | +128% above national |
| 2 | Reading, PA | $70,310 | +40% above national |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,150 | +38% above national |
| 4 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $65,820 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Jackson, TN | $63,900 | +27% above national |
| 6 | New Haven, CT | $63,210 | +26% above national |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $62,620 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,090 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $59,970 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,660 | +19% above national |
| 11 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,310 | +18% above national |
| 12 | Knoxville, TN | $58,680 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,310 | +16% above national |
| 14 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $58,250 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $58,000 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $57,500 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $57,280 | +14% above national |
| 18 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,130 | +14% above national |
| 19 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $56,660 | +13% above national |
| 20 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $56,110 | +12% above national |
| 21 | Rockford, IL | $55,270 | +10% above national |
| 22 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $54,680 | +9% above national |
| 23 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $54,570 | +9% above national |
| 24 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $53,680 | +7% above national |
| 25 | El Paso, TX | $52,950 | +6% above national |
| 26 | Birmingham, AL | $51,950 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Jackson, MI | $51,410 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $50,950 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $50,910 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $50,790 | +1% above national |
| 31 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,400 | +1% above national |
| 32 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,850 | 1% below national |
| 33 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,690 | 1% below national |
| 34 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,560 | 1% below national |
| 35 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,540 | 1% below national |
| 36 | Tulsa, OK | $48,900 | 2% below national |
| 37 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,890 | 2% below national |
| 38 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,860 | 3% below national |
| 39 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $48,830 | 3% below national |
| 40 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48,800 | 3% below national |
| 41 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,740 | 3% below national |
| 42 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,540 | 3% below national |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $48,510 | 3% below national |
| 44 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,490 | 3% below national |
| 45 | Rochester, NY | $48,320 | 4% below national |
| 46 | Omaha, NE-IA | $48,220 | 4% below national |
| 47 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,180 | 4% below national |
| 48 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $48,160 | 4% below national |
| 49 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,080 | 4% below national |
| 50 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,930 | 4% below national |
| 51 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $47,830 | 5% below national |
| 52 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,730 | 5% below national |
| 53 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,270 | 6% below national |
| 54 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,110 | 6% below national |
| 55 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $46,850 | 7% below national |
| 56 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $46,750 | 7% below national |
| 57 | Toledo, OH | $46,590 | 7% below national |
| 58 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $46,160 | 8% below national |
| 59 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $46,150 | 8% below national |
| 60 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $46,090 | 8% below national |
| 61 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,020 | 8% below national |
| 62 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,010 | 8% below national |
| 63 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,970 | 8% below national |
| 64 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $45,760 | 9% below national |
| 65 | Richmond, VA | $45,670 | 9% below national |
| 66 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $45,640 | 9% below national |
| 67 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45,510 | 9% below national |
| 68 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,220 | 10% below national |
| 69 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $44,710 | 11% below national |
| 70 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,160 | 12% below national |
| 71 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $43,560 | 13% below national |
| 72 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $42,960 | 14% below national |
| 73 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $42,640 | 15% below national |
| 74 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $41,750 | 17% below national |
| 75 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $41,750 | 17% below national |
| 76 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $41,600 | 17% below national |
| 77 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $41,120 | 18% below national |
| 78 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $40,260 | 20% below national |
| 79 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $40,030 | 20% below national |
| 80 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $39,960 | 20% below national |
| 81 | Lynchburg, VA | $39,720 | 21% below national |
| 82 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $39,450 | 21% below national |
| 83 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,840 | 23% below national |
| 84 | Joplin, MO-KS | $37,870 | 24% below national |
| 85 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $37,130 | 26% below national |
| 86 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,960 | 26% below national |
| 87 | Johnson City, TN | $31,680 | 37% below national |
| 88 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $24,020 | 52% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make? ▼
What state pays Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
How dangerous is being a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
Is Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a good career? ▼
How does Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $61,880/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Iowa leads at $72,670/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.