Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-4023.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.17–0.26· 3 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7223Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8121Metal Processing Plant Operators0.26
- ISCO-08 8142Plastic Products Machine Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Show 15 hidden tasks19 rated tasks · 4 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (21.1%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record mill production on schedule sheets.O*NET Task ID 10102 | 1.0 |
Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers.O*NET Task ID 10105 | 1.0 |
Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.O*NET Task ID 10093 | 0.5 |
Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures.O*NET Task ID 10094 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (19)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects. | Core |
| Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications. | Core |
| Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications. | Core |
| Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures. | Core |
| Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms. | Core |
| Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips. | Core |
| Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications. | Core |
| Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives. | Core |
| Direct and train other workers to change rolls, operate mill equipment, remove coils and cobbles, and band and load material. | Core |
| Fill oil cups, adjust valves, and observe gauges to control flow of metal coolants and lubricants onto workpieces. | Core |
| Record mill production on schedule sheets. | Core |
| Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools. | Core |
| Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines. | Core |
| Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers. | Core |
| Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces. | Core |
| Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers. | Supplemental |
| Select rolls, dies, roll stands, and chucks from data charts to form specified contours and to fabricate products. | Supplemental |
| Remove scratches and polish roll surfaces, using polishing stones and electric buffers. | Supplemental |
| Disassemble sizing mills removed from rolling lines, and sort and store parts. | Supplemental |
0.96/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms. | E2 structured facilities |
| Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications. | E2 structured facilities |
| Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill oil cups, adjust valves, and observe gauges to control flow of metal coolants and lubricants onto workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove scratches and polish roll surfaces, using polishing stones and electric buffers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Disassemble sizing mills removed from rolling lines, and sort and store parts. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 25K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 23K
- Change (2025–35)
- -8.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $50,140
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84151 | 압연기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84149 | 그 외 금속가공 관련 제어 장치 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7223Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators
- ISCO-08 8121Metal Processing Plant Operators
- ISCO-08 8142Plastic Products Machine Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- metal rolling mill operatorESCO 8121.5This occupation is broader
Metal rolling mill operators set up and tend metal rolling mills designed to form metal workpieces into their desired shape by passing them through one or several pairs of rolls in order to decrease the metal's thickness and to make it homogeneous. They also take into account the proper temperature for this rolling process.
- plastic rolling machine operatorESCO 8142.11This occupation is broader
Plastic rolling machine operators operate and monitor machines to produce plastic rolls, or to flatten and reduce the material. They examine raw materials and finished products to make sure they are according to specifications.
- mechanical forging press workerESCO 7221.4Overlapping, not the same
Mechanical forging press workers set up and tend mechanical forging presses, designed to shape ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces including pipes, tubes and hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel in their desired form by use of preset, compressive forces provided by cranks, cams and toggles at reproducible strokes.
- metal drawing machine operatorESCO 8121.4Overlapping, not the same
Metal drawing machine operators set up and operate drawing machines for ferrous and non-ferrous metal products, designed to provide wires, bars, pipes, hollow profiles and tubes with their specific form by reducing its cross-section and by pulling the working materials through a series of drawing dies.
- straightening machine operatorESCO 7223.22Overlapping, not the same
Straightening machine operators set up and tend straightening machines designed to form metal workpieces into their desired shape using pressing practices. They adjust the angle and the height of the straightening rolls and select the settings for the pressing force required to straighten the workpiece, taking into account the end product's yield strenght and size, without excess work hardening.
- swaging machine operatorESCO 7223.23Overlapping, not the same
Swaging machine operators set up and tend rotary swaging machines, designed to alter round ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces into their desired shape by first hammering them into a smaller diameter through the compressive force of two or more dies and then tagging them using a rotary swager, a process through which no excess material is lost.
- thread rolling machine operatorESCO 7223.24Overlapping, not the same
Thread rolling machine operators set up and tend thread rolling machines designed to form metal workpieces into external and internal screw threads by pressing a thread rolling die against metal blank rods, creating a larger diameter than those of the original blank workpieces.
- upsetting machine operatorESCO 7223.25Overlapping, not the same
Upsetting machine operators set up and tend upsetting machines, primarily crank presses, designed to form through forging processes metal workpieces, usually wires, rods, or bars, into their desired shape by having split dies with mulitiple cavities compress the workpieces' length and hereby increasing their diameter.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2904 | Forgeron industriel / Forgeronne industrielle | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| H2924 | Conducteur / Conductrice de ligne de production en industrie métallurgique | Related, not a match |
| H2905 | Cisailleur / Cisailleuse en métallurgie | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H3204 | Opérateur / Opératrice de production des matières plastiques et du caoutchouc | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8121 | Operadores en instalaciones para la obtención y transformación de metales | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 3135 | Técnicos en control de procesos de producción de metales | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 8142 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de material plástico | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 24122 | Berufe in der Metallumformung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 22102 | Berufe in der Kunststoff- und Kautschukherstellung (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 24123 | Berufe in der Metallumformung - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 529 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品） | This occupation is narrower |
| 499 | その他の生産設備制御・監視従事者（金属製品） | Related, not a match |
| 538 | ゴム・プラスチック製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources