Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median salary of $41,600 per year, ranking in the top 81% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -13.6% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?

The median annual wage for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $41,600. That puts plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at #658 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is -13.6%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 31K positions in 2024 to 27K in 2034, a net change of -4K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines.
2. 2.Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids and dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.
3. 3.Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
4. 4.Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
5. 5.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.
6. 6.Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly, making adjustments or stopping machines when problems occur.
7. 7.Examine completed objects to determine thicknesses of metal deposits, or measure thicknesses by using instruments such as micrometers.
8. 8.Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.

Top skills for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic