Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

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

Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic	$18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.56
Pourers and casters, metal	13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers	12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers	13.65

Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic held about 1.3 million jobs in 2002. Approximately 9 of 10 jobs were found in manufacturing. About 38 percent of all employment was in these manufacturing industries: transportation equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic by detailed occupation.

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	283,000
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	151,000
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	104,000
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	99,000
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	98,000
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	75,000
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	53,000
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	45,000
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,000
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,000
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	26,000
Foundry mold and coremakers	23,000
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,000
Pourers and casters, metal	13,000
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	13,000
Model makers, metal and plastic	8,500
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	6,500
All other metal workers and plastic workers	104,000

(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic)

See more recent statistics for employed workers below.

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Earnings

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin
State maximums: employment earnings: mean 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th
Metro maximums: employment earnings: mean 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th

Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
	Percentile annual earnings, $
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
National
U.S. employment: 39,150 mean earnings: $30,950	19,180	23,680	30,020	37,090	44,610
State and Metro Area
Alabama (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 920 mean earnings: $31,360	23,140	28,650	31,470	34,230	38,060
Birmingham, AL employment: 140 mean earnings: $32,700	20,050	25,660	31,900	39,700	45,990
Mobile, AL employment: 40 mean earnings: $32,280	16,710	22,930	32,810	38,030	49,500
Montgomery, AL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,820	20,170	25,320	29,790	33,210	35,310
Arizona (ACS) (EAG) employment: 470 mean earnings: $24,420	18,260	20,280	23,630	27,650	32,950
Phoenix - Mesa, AZ employment: 470 mean earnings: $24,370	18,250	20,270	23,620	27,600	32,760
Arkansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 670 mean earnings: $30,250	20,390	24,200	27,660	37,200	43,610
Fort Smith, AR - OK employment: 80 mean earnings: $37,390	20,830	26,530	37,630	48,100	54,270
Little Rock - North Little Rock, AR employment: 40 mean earnings: $30,680	21,590	29,860	32,050	34,230	35,550
California (ACS) (EAG) employment: 3,350 mean earnings: $27,570	16,490	19,760	25,320	33,510	42,940
Fresno, CA employment: 50 mean earnings: $24,990	19,080	21,000	24,530	27,990	33,410
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA employment: 1,490 mean earnings: $24,390	15,830	17,900	21,350	27,900	38,570
Oakland, CA employment: 110 mean earnings: $41,020	26,490	35,370	41,380	48,370	55,200
Orange County, CA employment: 300 mean earnings: $27,480	15,160	19,220	26,820	33,910	42,110
Riverside - San Bernardino, CA employment: 720 mean earnings: $31,140	22,230	25,170	28,550	36,470	44,620
Sacramento, CA employment: 30 mean earnings: $19,660	15,790	16,970	18,950	21,760	23,540
San Diego, CA employment: 180 mean earnings: $31,840	20,070	23,110	30,110	39,430	46,520
San Jose, CA employment: 60 mean earnings: $32,520	18,990	22,850	31,710	40,860	46,990
Stockton - Lodi, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $24,220	17,010	19,760	22,950	27,680	33,840
Ventura, CA employment: 70 mean earnings: $22,950	15,230	16,550	20,570	28,560	35,090
Yolo, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,920	20,050	22,350	26,790	32,900	38,150
Colorado (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $32,350	21,940	28,620	32,630	36,890	43,080
Connecticut (ACS) (EAG) employment: 750 mean earnings: $37,390	22,160	29,960	35,930	44,310	54,290
Bridgeport, CT employment: 60 mean earnings: $32,880	19,360	22,540	33,680	41,730	46,080
Danbury, CT employment: 40 mean earnings: $36,520	20,990	30,300	33,910	37,970	49,900
Hartford, CT employment: 250 mean earnings: $39,590	22,990	31,200	36,840	48,420	58,080
New Haven - Meriden, CT employment: 170 mean earnings: $36,090	25,520	31,390	35,800	41,710	46,960
Waterbury, CT employment: 80 mean earnings: $32,140	16,230	20,020	30,130	37,410	42,890
Delaware (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $38,700	27,530	31,960	38,210	43,920	51,610
Wilmington - Newark, DE - MD employment: 80 mean earnings: $38,700	27,530	31,960	38,210	43,920	51,610
Florida (ACS) (EAG) employment: 700 mean earnings: $24,660	15,940	19,080	22,720	29,160	36,800
Fort Lauderdale, FL employment: 90 mean earnings: $24,620	17,780	19,480	22,840	27,790	36,340
Fort Pierce - Port St. Lucie, FL employment: 30 mean earnings: $21,970	14,970	16,260	19,130	26,360	34,080
Miami, FL employment: 80 mean earnings: $22,860	16,150	18,730	21,680	26,460	32,270
Orlando, FL employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,130	18,690	20,130	23,260	37,820	42,180
Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater, FL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $20,390	13,340	15,700	19,480	23,460	30,570
Georgia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,080 mean earnings: $28,380	20,150	24,440	28,830	33,020	35,920
Atlanta, GA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 640 mean earnings: $27,760	20,040	23,630	27,700	32,300	35,680
Idaho (ACS) (EAG) employment: 50 mean earnings: $21,930	16,920	18,960	20,750	22,590	31,540
Illinois (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,610 mean earnings: $30,960	19,330	23,070	29,850	37,160	45,850
Chicago, IL employment: 1,730 mean earnings: $28,550	18,710	21,490	27,210	35,110	41,810
Kankakee, IL employment: 120 mean earnings: $36,040	23,680	25,650	31,240	48,560	55,520
Peoria - Pekin, IL employment: 150 mean earnings: $39,810	26,790	30,720	39,600	50,130	54,080
Rockford, IL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $35,620	26,630	30,520	34,530	40,960	46,960
Indiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,710 mean earnings: $36,350	23,990	29,320	34,430	42,370	51,350
Elkhart - Goshen, IN employment: 190 mean earnings: $29,020	23,090	25,560	29,000	32,870	35,320
Fort Wayne, IN employment: 230 mean earnings: $36,330	21,010	29,760	34,970	45,730	53,400
Gary, IN employment: 820 mean earnings: $42,350	29,320	32,510	39,270	50,160	56,200
Indianapolis, IN employment: 120 mean earnings: $32,200	19,970	26,990	32,050	35,690	44,780
South Bend, IN employment: 160 mean earnings: $33,380	25,290	30,010	33,870	37,510	42,050
Terre Haute, IN employment: 150 mean earnings: $36,300	22,470	28,510	34,860	42,910	54,540
Iowa (ACS) (EAG) employment: 840 mean earnings: $34,050	24,480	29,640	34,460	40,140	43,680
Kansas (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 150 mean earnings: $29,040	20,280	23,940	28,870	33,770	39,390
Wichita, KS employment: 70 mean earnings: $28,790	19,570	22,560	28,670	33,930	40,770
Kentucky (ACS) (EAG) employment: 820 mean earnings: $27,430	17,000	22,140	26,300	33,810	39,170
Louisiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 240 mean earnings: $29,940	16,990	23,750	29,940	37,390	43,110
New Orleans, LA employment: 50 mean earnings: $23,270	14,390	15,900	18,880	31,160	41,760
Massachusetts (ACS) (EAG) employment: 610 mean earnings: $31,990	19,680	24,550	31,430	38,510	45,790
Boston, MA - NH employment: 110 mean earnings: $27,030	17,430	21,340	25,540	31,490	38,850
Lowell, MA - NH employment: 40 mean earnings: $27,150	20,150	22,210	25,650	29,620	38,710
Springfield, MA employment: 130 mean earnings: $27,770	20,060	22,240	26,570	32,850	38,050
Michigan (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,810 mean earnings: $33,110	22,660	25,600	30,860	39,300	50,140
Ann Arbor, MI employment: 80 mean earnings: $28,940	20,400	23,190	27,070	33,120	42,020
Detroit, MI employment: 740 mean earnings: $35,970	23,100	26,030	33,480	47,360	54,160
Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Holland, MI employment: 400 mean earnings: $31,630	23,740	26,290	30,820	35,460	42,360
Kalamazoo - Battle Creek, MI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,380	21,080	24,670	30,160	36,850	44,250
Minnesota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 560 mean earnings: $31,880	20,820	24,870	31,220	39,930	43,980
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN - WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,590	20,920	25,030	30,830	39,050	43,930
Mississippi (ACS) (EAG) employment: 450 mean earnings: $25,240	15,320	19,960	25,320	29,980	35,110
Missouri (ACS) (EAG) employment: 520 mean earnings: $26,650	14,340	18,830	29,190	33,230	35,900
Kansas City, MO - KS employment: 80 mean earnings: $29,930	20,430	25,760	30,880	34,120	38,510
Nebraska (ACS) (EAG) employment: 340 mean earnings: $26,420	19,150	21,670	25,960	30,950	34,920
Omaha, NE - IA employment: 170 mean earnings: $26,710	19,620	21,760	26,870	31,890	34,610
Nevada (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $26,790	19,440	21,780	25,460	29,620	37,040
Reno, NV employment: 50 mean earnings: $26,130	19,270	21,290	24,470	27,830	34,890
New Jersey (ACS) (EAG) employment: 890 mean earnings: $28,510	17,690	20,480	25,610	34,600	47,580
Bergen - Passaic, NJ employment: 180 mean earnings: $25,460	12,650	16,010	22,660	32,870	42,560
Middlesex - Somerset - Hunterdon, NJ employment: 330 mean earnings: $31,460	18,580	21,830	27,780	40,350	52,250
Newark, NJ employment: 120 mean earnings: $27,060	14,900	21,110	26,320	30,960	39,150
Trenton, NJ employment: 30 mean earnings: $24,280	19,540	20,680	22,590	28,920	33,230
New York (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,450 mean earnings: $30,200	16,130	20,860	29,110	37,900	48,060
Albany - Schenectady - Troy, NY employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,360	21,800	24,480	27,290	31,360	34,730
Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY employment: 200 mean earnings: $35,380	15,090	25,560	34,250	50,100	56,200
Jamestown, NY employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,980	24,020	25,650	28,290	31,880	34,490
Nassau - Suffolk, NY employment: 160 mean earnings: $20,990	14,390	15,960	18,680	23,650	31,490
New York, NY employment: 200 mean earnings: $22,930	16,030	18,800	22,220	26,510	30,380
Rochester, NY employment: 130 mean earnings: $22,340	15,540	16,930	20,030	25,990	33,630
Utica - Rome, NY employment: 90 mean earnings: n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
North Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,270	21,590	24,680	28,970	34,690	42,000
Charlotte - Gastonia - Rock Hill, NC - SC employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,310	21,530	26,680	33,040	39,820	43,920
Greensboro - - Winston - Salem - - High Point, NC employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,050	22,710	25,410	29,570	33,640	38,770
Ohio (ACS) (EAG) employment: 3,990 mean earnings: $34,160	22,770	26,580	33,050	41,420	47,170
Akron, OH employment: 50 mean earnings: $33,220	24,430	27,590	33,090	39,520	43,710
Canton - Massillon, OH employment: 330 mean earnings: $35,180	23,440	28,830	33,420	41,630	52,640
Cincinnati, OH - KY - IN employment: 190 mean earnings: $33,620	22,760	28,370	34,150	39,470	44,050
Cleveland - Lorain - Elyria, OH employment: 940 mean earnings: $35,580	25,050	29,400	34,730	42,110	46,340
Columbus, OH employment: 200 mean earnings: $27,050	19,550	21,410	26,920	32,360	35,040
Dayton - Springfield, OH employment: 270 mean earnings: $32,870	20,380	23,120	27,260	48,760	55,350
Mansfield, OH employment: 70 mean earnings: $30,220	20,530	24,340	28,460	37,390	42,620
Toledo, OH employment: 110 mean earnings: $38,100	22,870	25,490	32,310	51,390	63,820
Youngstown - Warren, OH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $38,110	25,760	31,250	38,790	44,540	51,060
Oklahoma (ACS) (EAG) employment: 270 mean earnings: $27,070	18,830	22,010	26,370	31,290	36,300
Oklahoma City, OK employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,600	19,900	24,670	29,130	33,320	36,300
Tulsa, OK employment: 160 mean earnings: $27,010	19,720	22,950	26,280	30,180	35,410
Oregon (ACS) (EAG) employment: 230 mean earnings: $32,250	19,680	22,150	32,930	41,360	45,180
Portland - Vancouver, OR - WA employment: 120 mean earnings: $33,690	19,920	23,650	35,650	41,960	45,480
Pennsylvania (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,940 mean earnings: $32,120	20,500	26,450	32,510	37,720	43,930
Allentown - Bethlehem - Easton, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,620	18,560	22,370	30,780	34,800	37,370
Erie, PA employment: 50 mean earnings: $30,900	19,750	28,510	31,990	35,100	39,120
Lancaster, PA employment: 100 mean earnings: $36,140	25,990	30,550	35,410	41,920	48,130
Philadelphia, PA - NJ employment: 590 mean earnings: $30,530	19,820	23,900	30,370	35,770	43,430
Pittsburgh, PA employment: 920 mean earnings: $31,420	19,460	25,960	32,410	36,650	42,780
Reading, PA employment: 90 mean earnings: $41,610	27,000	32,680	40,550	49,190	57,100
Scranton - - Wilkes - Barre - - Hazleton, PA employment: 60 mean earnings: $30,140	22,380	25,260	29,700	35,000	40,650
Sharon, PA employment: 230 mean earnings: $31,850	23,990	28,790	31,920	34,950	39,980
Williamsport, PA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 30 mean earnings: $27,270	18,870	20,740	25,300	34,130	37,940
York, PA employment: 100 mean earnings: $34,400	18,010	23,450	35,280	43,750	50,210
Rhode Island (ACS) (EAG) employment: 220 mean earnings: $31,330	21,330	24,960	30,150	36,270	44,150
Providence - Fall River - Warwick, RI - MA employment: 300 mean earnings: $31,890	22,070	26,380	31,590	36,370	43,450
South Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,000 mean earnings: $33,320	21,100	25,240	34,430	41,080	44,640
Columbia, SC employment: 60 mean earnings: $30,350	21,260	24,570	29,930	34,680	42,660
Greenville - Spartanburg - Anderson, SC employment: 140 mean earnings: $36,590	25,640	30,740	39,050	43,020	45,420
South Dakota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $25,950	18,600	21,500	25,320	28,450	35,660
Sioux Falls, SD employment: 70 mean earnings: $29,030	23,540	25,040	27,360	31,510	40,420
Tennessee (ACS) (EAG) employment: 910 mean earnings: $24,590	16,200	18,890	23,760	29,520	34,620
Chattanooga, TN - GA employment: 70 mean earnings: $26,230	19,490	21,460	25,320	30,940	34,980
Memphis, TN - AR - MS employment: 150 mean earnings: $23,870	18,850	20,550	23,490	26,760	28,800
Nashville, TN employment: 290 mean earnings: $25,600	16,260	19,430	25,790	29,310	34,880
Texas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,320 mean earnings: $25,040	15,320	19,520	24,130	28,350	36,530
Austin - San Marcos, TX employment: 40 mean earnings: $24,130	19,530	20,780	22,860	26,590	30,970
Dallas, TX employment: 730 mean earnings: $24,200	17,130	20,560	24,200	27,490	32,500
Fort Worth - Arlington, TX employment: 180 mean earnings: $18,950	14,600	15,830	17,700	22,360	26,780
Houston, TX employment: 300 mean earnings: $25,040	12,810	18,430	24,440	31,120	36,160
San Antonio, TX employment: 180 mean earnings: $23,600	15,400	18,360	23,480	27,050	33,260
Utah (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $32,440	19,590	23,720	30,130	39,970	49,940
Salt Lake City - Ogden, UT employment: 50 mean earnings: $38,130	18,430	22,910	38,320	51,880	60,570
Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 930 mean earnings: $33,470	21,130	26,270	32,360	37,670	52,430
Norfolk - Virginia Beach - Newport News, VA - NC employment: 230 mean earnings: $44,070	25,150	32,410	50,240	55,860	59,230
Richmond - Petersburg, VA employment: 220 mean earnings: $32,920	24,580	29,680	33,100	36,720	42,300
Washington (ACS) (EAG) employment: 460 mean earnings: $34,640	21,140	24,590	31,370	41,980	57,040
Seattle - Bellevue - Everett, WA employment: 240 mean earnings: $35,770	21,850	25,400	31,940	42,970	60,530
Spokane, WA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $37,780	21,190	25,260	35,550	51,710	57,570
West Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 570 mean earnings: $33,250	25,890	29,950	32,860	35,750	42,830
Huntington - Ashland, WV - KY - OH employment: 180 mean earnings: $31,640	26,720	29,500	31,900	34,290	35,720
Wisconsin (ACS) (EAG) employment: 710 mean earnings: $32,840	21,600	28,130	33,140	39,120	43,610
Milwaukee - Waukesha, WI employment: 190 mean earnings: $36,340	22,150	31,550	38,110	43,060	46,250
Wausau, WI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,070	24,290	29,130	33,010	38,290	42,720

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The highlighted text indicates the maximum values in each column among the states and metropolitan areas.

The (ACS) links lead to data from the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

The (EAG) links lead to U.S. Economy at a Glance data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.