What is a Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
Position Description 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. Includes electrolytic processes.
What Do Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do On a Daily Basis?
- Monitor and measure thicknesses of electroplating on component parts to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers.
- Spray coating in specified patterns according to instructions.
- Measure and set stops, rolls, brushes, and guides on automatic feeders and conveying equipment or coating machines, using micrometers, rules, and hand tools.
- Position containers to receive parts, and load or unload materials in containers, using dollies or handtrucks.
- Measure, mark, and mask areas to be excluded from plating.
- Adjust controls to set temperatures of coating substances and speeds of machines and equipment.
Featured schools near , edit
What Every Plating and Coating Machine Operator Should Know
Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Other Plating and Coating Machine Operator Job Titles
- Welding Rod Coater
- Plating Operator
- Metal Coater Operator
- Printed Circuit Board Panels Electroless Plater
- Coater Operator
What Kind of Plating and Coating Machine Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 35,300 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 2,800 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Plating and Coating Machine Operator are North Dakota, Washington, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Colorado, New Mexico, or Missouri. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Plating and Coating Machine Operator
The salary for Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ranges between about $22,980 and $50,740 a year.

Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in West Virginia, Maryland, or Georgia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $32,200 |
Arizona | $30,770 |
Arkansas | $32,710 |
California | $35,570 |
Colorado | $40,640 |
Connecticut | $39,060 |
Delaware | $34,430 |
Florida | $33,290 |
Georgia | $45,320 |
Idaho | $33,090 |
Illinois | $32,930 |
Indiana | $34,480 |
Iowa | $35,480 |
Kansas | $32,120 |
Kentucky | $32,820 |
Louisiana | $34,080 |
Maine | $35,500 |
Maryland | $41,210 |
Massachusetts | $40,600 |
Michigan | $32,450 |
Minnesota | $36,880 |
Mississippi | $34,380 |
Missouri | $31,750 |
Nebraska | $36,370 |
Nevada | $29,430 |
New Hampshire | $40,200 |
New Jersey | $36,950 |
New Mexico | $34,360 |
New York | $34,640 |
North Carolina | $33,080 |
Ohio | $34,050 |
Oklahoma | $40,330 |
Oregon | $36,570 |
Pennsylvania | $37,350 |
Rhode Island | $32,410 |
South Carolina | $32,930 |
Tennessee | $33,870 |
Texas | $33,660 |
Utah | $33,990 |
Virginia | $36,600 |
Washington | $38,820 |
West Virginia | $49,220 |
Wisconsin | $32,650 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Hazardous materials management HMS software
- Oracle Advanced Procurement
Becoming a Plating and Coating Machine Operator
Learn what Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Plating and Coating Machine Operator?

Where Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Metal and Plastic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |