How much does a metal rolling operator make?
a year · about $24 an hour
A typical metal rolling operator in the United States makes $50,140 a year, about $24 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check the work order, feed metal into the rolling mill, and watch the gauges and rollers for jams. They adjust the machine, measure the finished strip or rod, and record the results.
Did you know? Some rolling-machine operators make wire by squeezing and stretching metal rods with spinning rollers.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $37,690 and $70,310How do you become one?
In the United States, most people start with a high-school diploma or GED and learn the job in a factory from experienced workers, usually over several months to about a year. Metalworking or CNC classes, or a registered apprenticeship such as Roll Operator I, can build skills.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay often rises with experience and skill, such as learning to set up a mill, and can differ by employer, industry, and location. Extra hours or evening and weekend shifts may also change total earnings; a credential can help when an employer values it.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Iowa ($72,670), lowest in Michigan ($44,090).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,690 | $50,140 | $70,310 | about 25,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $72,670 | about 660 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,970 | about 3,000 |
| Illinois | $54,180 | about 550 |
| Alabama | $53,380 | about 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $50,400 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4023.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514023.htm
- www.bls.gov/ocs/additional-resources/f707-rolling-machine-operators.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY