Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$46,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$4,000
8.1% of base
Total target cash
$50,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,50050th$4,00075th$6,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: Less than a High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
What Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlMonitoringActive ListeningTime Management
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$35,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$38,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$45,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$51,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$62,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-13.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
23,230 workers
$45,000
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities
20,280 workers
$44,500
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
1,870 workers
$48,000
Primary Metal Manufacturing
1,820 workers
$54,500
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
1,740 workers
$47,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
1,540 workers
$51,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
1,180 workers
$47,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
1,040 workers
$50,000
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
920 workers
$41,000
Machinery Manufacturing
890 workers
$52,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $34,850 to $43,960.
+26.1% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$35,000
Early career25th percentile
$38,500
Median50th percentile
$45,500
Experienced75th percentile
$51,500
Top earners90th percentile
$62,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Operations MonitoringReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlMonitoringActive ListeningTime Management
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$46,500
2027$48,000
2028$50,000
2029$51,500
2030$53,500
2031$55,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The median market pay for a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is about $46,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Most Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay falls between about $38,500 (25th percentile) and $51,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $62,500.
What does a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do?
Core responsibilities include: immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times; and adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
Is pay for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $34,850 in 2020 to $43,960 in 2025, a change of +26.1% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pays 17% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $46,500 per year, or about $22.36 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $38,500 and $51,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
