Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary: $55,690 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 22,350 rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationally earn a mean of $55,690. Employment in the series shown fell about 15% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 3.6% annual decline.
Key Statistics
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: what the data shows
Common questions about rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 51-4023.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 22,350 workers.
What does a rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Controlling Machines and Processes, Getting Information, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Handling and Moving Objects, Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
BLS national median annual wage: $48,630 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $55,690 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,289 |
| 25th percentile | $42,280 |
| Median (50th) | $50,047 |
| 75th percentile | $68,453 |
| 90th percentile | $82,786 |
What education do you need?
For Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and knowledge areas including Mechanical, Production and Processing, English Language, Education and Training. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 3.6% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -16.9%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -31.0%.
Current U.S. headcount: 22,350.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 22,350 | 20.1% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 22,350 | 20.1% |
| Manufacturing | 20,930 | 18.8% |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 11,400 | 10.3% |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 5,670 | 5.1% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 4,930 | 4.4% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workforce.
Employment Over Time
22,350 Workforce in 2023
The Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$55,690 Average Wage
In 2023, Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earned an average of $55,690.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Salary distribution for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Employment Growth Projections
-3.6% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
4,136 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -16.9%
3,435 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -31.0%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Wage Trends by Industry
6.8% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Total, All Industry: 7.5% growth (Current: $65,355)
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- OH: 1,990 employees, $50,390 avg wage
- KY: 1,640 employees, $48,610 avg wage
- AL: 1,490 employees, $56,650 avg wage
- MI: 1,410 employees, $46,890 avg wage
- TX: 1,410 employees, $46,290 avg wage
- IN: 1,390 employees, $55,430 avg wage
- CA: 1,350 employees, $54,280 avg wage
- TN: 1,210 employees, $49,530 avg wage
- PA: 800 employees, $51,680 avg wage
- SC: 730 employees, $46,410 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 680 employees, $58,920 avg wage
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: 630 employees, $51,400 avg wage
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN: 590 employees, $50,500 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 500 employees, $49,170 avg wage
- Cleveland, OH: 490 employees, $50,930 avg wage
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: 470 employees, $43,560 avg wage
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 440 employees, $53,720 avg wage
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI: 430 employees, $41,080 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: 420 employees, $60,240 avg wage
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN: 420 employees, $50,870 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Diversity
Demographic information on Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2023 was 22,350 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2023 were Business Administration, Engineering, Business.
Common majors for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workers.
Education level distribution for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Skills
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic need many skills, but most especially Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Speaking.
Required skills for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic include Mechanical, Production and Processing, English Language, Education and Training, Administration and Management.
Knowledge areas required for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic include Problem Sensitivity, Control Precision, Near Vision, Reaction Time, Rate Control.
Required abilities for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Daily Activities
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic spend their time on activities such as Controlling Machines and Processes, Getting Information, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Handling and Moving Objects.
Most important work activities for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
About
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The average yearly wage for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $55,690 in 2023.
SOC Code
51-4023 - Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic reports an average salary of $55,690.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 22,350 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -3.6%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.