How To Become A Roll Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a roll operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

The roll operator is in charge of operating the rolling machine that manipulates various materials into different shapes, such as sheets, cylinders, or cones. Most of their day involves feeding the material back and forth into the machine, as well as adjusting settings according to specifications. While the tasks of a roll operator may be repetitive, this role entails a strong knowledge of geometry, rolling machinery, and the physical properties of the material they are manipulating.

Other duties of a roll operator include documenting maintenance reports, conducting quality assurance checks, and performing basic maintenance tasks on the rolling machine. Some roll operators may also be required to operate forklifts, front-end loaders, bobcats, and other types of heavy machinery.

The minimum requirement for this role is a high school diploma or GED. Experience and training are much more important, as employers prefer individuals with the technical knowledge and skills to operate rolling machines safely and accurately. However, on-the-job training is still typically provided.

If you manage to attain this job, you can expect to make an average of $34,000 a year. Your earning potential may increase further with additional training and expertise.

ScoreRoll OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,451

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.6

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 2.31%

Black or African American 9.74%

Hispanic or Latino 12.05%

Unknown 2.82%

White 72.31%

Gender

female 19.28%

male 80.72%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a roll operator

Explore roll operator education requirements

Most common roll operator degrees

High School Diploma

54.2 %

Associate

15.9 %

Diploma

12.9 %

Start to develop specific roll operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Asphalt	30.03%
Construction Sites	8.10%
Hand Tools	5.36%
Hot Mix	5.08%
Tape Measure	4.78%

Complete relevant roll operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New roll operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a roll operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real roll operator resumes.

Research roll operator duties and responsibilities

Run high temperature pressure to produce mold plastic pallets.
Document maintenance reports, log sheet, QA checks and production.
Verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges and calipers.
Exhibit high levels of accuracy, speed, attention to detail and math skills.

Prepare your roll operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your roll operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a roll operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable roll operator resume templates

Build a professional roll operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your roll operator resume.