Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the U.S.
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the U.S. earn a median of $50,140 a year ($24.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,310 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $53,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| 25th percentile | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Median | $50,140 | $24.10 |
| 75th percentile | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Average (mean) | $53,220 | $25.59 |
Half of rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,178.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,089.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,928.46 |
| Weekly | $964.23 |
| Hourly | $24.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,140 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $72,670 | 660 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,970 | 3,070 |
| Vermont | $66,240 | 40 |
| Washington | $63,560 | 350 |
| Maryland | $61,470 | 310 |
| New York | $60,890 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $60,620 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $60,610 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $60,570 | 40 |
| Colorado | $57,500 | 110 |
| Illinois | $54,180 | 550 |
| Alabama | $53,380 | 1,710 |
| Wisconsin | $51,370 | 290 |
| Kentucky | $50,400 | 1,120 |
| Oregon | $50,400 | 140 |
| Ohio | $50,030 | 1,310 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | 110 |
| Texas | $49,660 | 1,680 |
| Tennessee | $48,540 | 1,290 |
| North Carolina | $48,450 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $48,330 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $48,210 | 820 |
| California | $48,040 | 1,150 |
| Massachusetts | $47,830 | 480 |
| Arizona | $47,820 | 110 |
| Utah | $47,540 | 60 |
| Missouri | $47,390 | 180 |
| New Jersey | $46,980 | 250 |
| Florida | $46,810 | 310 |
| Virginia | $46,450 | 450 |
| South Dakota | $46,040 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $45,890 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $45,800 | 230 |
| Indiana | $45,430 | 2,750 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | 1,070 |
| Michigan | $44,090 | 1,480 |
| North Dakota | $43,480 | 150 |
| Kansas | $40,260 | 170 |
| Mississippi | $39,320 | 230 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,650 | 170 |
Best-paying metro areas for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $114,470 | 70 |
| Reading, PA | $70,310 | 670 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $69,150 | 1,260 |
| Jackson, TN | $63,900 | 40 |
| New Haven, CT | $63,210 | 70 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $62,620 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,090 | 210 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $59,970 | 70 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,660 | 500 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,310 | 140 |
| Knoxville, TN | $58,680 | 320 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $57,500 | 60 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $57,280 | 490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,130 | 190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $56,110 | 110 |
Metro areas with the most rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,300 | $49,850 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,260 | $69,150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 730 | $47,730 |
| Reading, PA | 670 | $70,310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 570 | $48,080 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 550 | $50,400 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 500 | $59,660 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 490 | $57,280 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 350 | $48,830 |
| Knoxville, TN | 320 | $58,680 |
| Birmingham, AL | 300 | $51,950 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 300 | $47,830 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 280 | $38,840 |
| Cleveland, OH | 260 | $48,510 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 260 | $48,490 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median salary for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $50,140 a year, or $24.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. earn at least $70,310 a year. The top 25% earn $61,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,690 a year, and a quarter of rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $44,020 or less.
How many rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in the U.S.?
About 25,250 rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.