Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4193BLS OEWS May 2025
Set up, operate, or tend plating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Typically, the product being coated is immersed in molten metal or an electrolytic solution. Excludes “Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-9124).
National median · BLS
$43,960
▲ +5.67%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$45,100
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
32,410
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$33,790
25th
$37,260
Median (50th)
$43,960
75th
$49,600
90th — top pay
$60,370
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
BLS projects employment of plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to decline 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 2,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
33,300 → 30,100
-3,200 jobs
Projected change
-9.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.6% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces.
Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly, making adjustments or stopping machines when problems occur.
Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
Maintain production records.
Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines.
Also called
AnodizerChrome PlaterElectro PlaterPlaterAnodizing Line OperatorCoater AssociateCoater OperatorGalvanizerLine OperatorMachine Operator
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $43,960.
