Prevailing Wage for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Prevailing wage for Breakdown Mill Operator roles is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, covering positions also listed under titles like Rolling Mill Operator and Calender Operator. DOL establishes four experience levels, each with a different wage floor, and the required minimum varies considerably depending on which U.S. city the worksite falls in.
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Entry-level Breakdown Mill Operator with limited hands-on experience, typically less than two years. Works under close supervision following established procedures. Education is usually a high school diploma or equivalent, with on-the-job training for machine setup and operation.
Qualified operator with solid practical experience running rolling or calendering equipment independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting mid-career professionals who handle standard production runs with moderate oversight.
Experienced operator who troubleshoots equipment issues, adjusts settings for varied materials, and may guide junior operators. Typically has five or more years of hands-on experience across multiple machine types and production environments.
Fully competent senior operator or lead with comprehensive expertise in machine setup, process optimization, and quality control. May oversee a work cell or shift, set production standards, and train other operators with minimal supervisory direction.
Prevailing Wage for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Verify the worksite city on your LCA
Rolling mill and calendering operations are concentrated in specific manufacturing corridors. Because the DOL wage floor is tied to the worksite listed on the LCA, a facility in Decatur, AL can carry wage requirements well above those for a comparable site in Chattanooga, GA.
Watch for SOC code mismatches on offers
Mill Operator and Machine Operator titles sometimes get filed under broader production SOC codes that carry a different wage floor. Confirm your offer letter and LCA both reference SOC 51-4023 so the correct Breakdown Mill Operator prevailing wage applies to your sponsored position.
Understand what counts toward the wage floor
Shift differentials and production bonuses common in rolling mill environments may not count toward the DOL wage floor unless they are guaranteed and unconditional. Confirm that your base pay alone meets the applicable level before relying on variable pay to close any gap.
Find sponsors with a Cold Mill Operator track record
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Cold Mill Operators and Rolling Mill Operators, letting you focus your applications on manufacturers with an active H-1B or green card filing history rather than facilities with no sponsorship track record.
Jobs for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Breakdown Mill OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4023.00 alongside Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Breakdown Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Breakdown Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Breakdown Mill Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Calender Operator Prevailing Wage
Calender Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Calender Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cold Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Cold Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Cold Mill Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mill Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Rolling Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Rolling Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Rolling Mill Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Roughing Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Roughing Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Roughing Mill Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Temper Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Temper Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Temper Mill Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tube Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Tube Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Tube Mill Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Weld Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Weld Mill Operator Prevailing Wage
Weld Mill Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4023.00 (Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for a Breakdown Mill Operator position?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across U.S. metro areas and assigns four wage levels to SOC 51-4023. The employer must request a prevailing wage determination from OFLC, which then returns the applicable floor for the worksite location and experience level before the LCA is filed.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to me?
Level 1 covers entry-level operators with limited experience under close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified operators working independently, and it is the most common level for sponsored Rolling Mill Operator roles. Level 3 applies to experienced operators with broader responsibilities, and Level 4 covers senior or lead operators. The level is determined by the actual job duties and supervision structure described in the LCA, not by your title alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Mill Operator role differ so much between cities?
DOL calculates wage floors from regional OES surveys, so areas with dense heavy manufacturing employment, stronger union presence, or higher overall wages produce higher floors. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, meaning a plant in Minneapolis, MN carries a different floor than a comparable facility in Ponce, PR. The employer cannot use a lower-cost metro's wage if the work is performed elsewhere.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Breakdown Mill Operator position?
A wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor will result in OFLC declining to certify the LCA, which blocks the H-1B or PERM process entirely. USCIS also reviews wage compliance when adjudicating the petition. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or file at the correct experience level before sponsorship can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Rolling Mill Operator role at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-4023 for the specific metro area where the worksite is located. Select the appropriate experience level and confirm the result matches what the employer has listed on the LCA. You can also review historical LCA filings through OFLC disclosure data to see what comparable employers have certified for Calender Operator and Cold Mill Operator positions in that region.
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