Production
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Breakdown Mill Operator, Calender Operator, Cold Mill Operator, Machine Operator
US median pay
$50,140
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-8.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
1,900
25,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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 and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring4.0/5
- Operation and Control4.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.6/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Repairing3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.0/5
Knowledge
- Mechanical3.9/5
- Production and Processing3.5/5
- English Language3.4/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Engineering and Technology2.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma74%
- Less than high school13%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.