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

Also called: Mill Operator, Rolling Mill Operator, Roughing Mill Operator, Tube Mill Operator

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.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$50,140
Openings a year BLS, 2025–351,900
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 Moderate
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 -8.3%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 3 of its 19 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 8.3% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 3.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 85% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 33% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$39k$73knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$53,380$50,240 to $73,8801,710
Arizona$47,820$45,630 to $57,330110
Arkansas$45,890$39,760 to $65,060420
California$48,040$40,080 to $61,9201,150
Colorado$57,500$48,140 to $61,750110
Connecticut$60,610$43,910 to $63,360150
Florida$46,810$38,660 to $65,610310
Georgia$45,050$38,020 to $52,9501,070
Illinois$54,180$47,610 to $62,590550
Indiana$45,430$41,160 to $56,1602,750
Iowa$72,670$58,700 to $72,670660
Kansas$40,260$36,790 to $49,750170
Kentucky$50,400$45,040 to $55,4101,120
Louisiana$49,920$47,070 to $66,030110
Maryland$61,470$58,430 to $64,410310
Massachusetts$47,830$46,770 to $58,290480
Michigan$44,090$39,940 to $58,5101,480
Minnesota$60,620$51,640 to $65,31050
Mississippi$39,320$38,500 to $47,290230
Missouri$47,390$38,650 to $49,550180
Nebraska$45,800$36,530 to $50,370230
New Hampshire$60,570$48,700 to $73,04040
New Jersey$46,980$42,250 to $60,310250
New York$60,890$51,370 to $85,340420
North Carolina$48,450$44,590 to $54,470510
North Dakota$43,480$43,370 to $45,260150
Ohio$50,030$45,920 to $58,7801,310
Oklahoma$48,330$37,490 to $50,370290
Oregon$50,400$43,190 to $81,630140
Pennsylvania$66,970$54,330 to $69,2403,070
Puerto Rico$22,650$22,640 to $26,430170
South Carolina$48,210$39,130 to $56,660820
South Dakota$46,040$39,020 to $48,88070
Tennessee$48,540$38,930 to $54,1401,290
Texas$49,660$41,340 to $58,3001,680
Utah$47,540$45,220 to $53,49060
Vermont$66,240$53,420 to $78,81040
Virginia$46,450$42,340 to $57,800450
Washington$63,560$47,070 to $88,450350
Wisconsin$51,370$45,910 to $58,310290

Nationally: $50,140. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 3 of its 19 tasks

0 · AI alone could halve the time 3 · AI + software built on it could 16 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects. Not published
Not much Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures. Not published
Not much Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications. Not published
Not much Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications. Not published
Not much Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms. Not published
Not much Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications. Not published
See all 19 tasks
Not much Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives. Not published
Not much Direct and train other workers to change rolls, operate mill equipment, remove coils and cobbles, and band and load material. Not published
Not much Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips. Not published
Not much Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools. Not published
Not much Fill oil cups, adjust valves, and observe gauges to control flow of metal coolants and lubricants onto workpieces. Not published
Not much Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers. Not published
Not much Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces. Not published
Not much Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers. Not published
AI + software Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines. Not published
AI + software Record mill production on schedule sheets. Not published
AI + software Select rolls, dies, roll stands, and chucks from data charts to form specified contours and to fabricate products. Not published
Not much Remove scratches and polish roll surfaces, using polishing stones and electric buffers. Not published
Not much Disassemble sizing mills removed from rolling lines, and sort and store parts. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 19 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 19 tasks fall under 19 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up3 of 19 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most2 of 19 activities
  • #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
  • #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Monitor equipment operation 1.87#203 0.26#236
Operate industrial processing or production equipment 0.13#309 0.02#301
Set up equipment 20#58 4.69#95
Position workpieces or materials on equipment 0.61#264 0.17#249
Read documents or materials to inform work processes 197#8 47#28
Select materials or equipment for operations or projects 45#38 19#49
Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance 20#57 4.31#101
Determine resource needs of projects or operations 6.29#111 2.93#115
Show all 19 activities
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment 6.04#113 1.15#158
Sort materials or products 3.97#147 1.71#135
Inspect completed work or finished products 3.91#150 1.95#130
Shape materials to create products 3.04#167 0.26#235
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Disassemble equipment 2.48#182 0.82#170
Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures 1.85#204 0.36#225
Train others to use equipment or products 1.26#225 20#47
Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment 1.07#231 0.35#228
Operate cutting or grinding equipment 0.54#267 0.01#321
Signal others to coordinate work activities 0.33#283 0.74#179
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Signal others to coordinate work activities” holds 1 task rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 0.33 of every 10,000 conversations, #283 of 332.
How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: -8.3%Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: -8.3%Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 569 moves out

  1. 1 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 14%
  2. 2 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 10%
  3. 3 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 7%
  4. 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
  5. 5 Security Guards Moderate +0.9% 5%

Where people moved in from

of 475 moves in

  1. 1 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 12%
  2. 2 Security Guards Moderate +0.9% 7%
  3. 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
  4. 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
  5. 5 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 4%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

O*NET survey of workers in this occupation

  • 13% less than high school
  • 74% high school
  • 3% postsecondary certificate
  • 10% some college

O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 29 people answered.

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 14% less than high school
  • 52% high school
  • 21% some college
  • 8% associate's
  • 4% bachelor's
  • 1% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers” · 3,391 people surveyed.

Why the two can differ

O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
2 programs: Machine Tool Technology/Machinist and Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking.

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 2 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (ROLL OPERATOR I; ROLL THREADER OPERATOR). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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