Production
Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
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.
Median pay
$43,960
Growth to 2035
−10%
declining
Openings a year
2,500
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: 34% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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: Anodizer · Anodizing Line Operator · Chrome Plater · Coater Associate · Coater Operator · Electro Plater · Galvanizer · Line Operator
Outlook and AI
Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic held 33,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 30,100 by 2035 (−10%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as improvements in robotics, CNC operated machinery, and other industrial equipment increase efficiency, allowing more output to be produced with the same amount of labor.
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