# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/plating-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic
- SOC code: 51-4193.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $43,960 (10th percentile $33,790, 90th percentile $60,370)
- Projected growth: Decline, -9.7%
- Openings a year: 2,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 21 |
| Artistic (A) | 7 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 77/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 76/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 74/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 71/100)
- Getting Information (importance 69/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 67/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Reading Comprehension, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Speaking, Time Management

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mathematics, Chemistry, English Language, Mechanical, Engineering and Technology, Education and Training, Law and Government, Customer and Personal Service, Design

## Also called

Alodize Machine Operator, Anode Machine Operator, Anodic Operator, Anodic Treater, Anodize Machine Operator, Anodizer, Anodizing Line Operator, Anodizing Operator, Anodizing Technician, Automatic Metal Spraying Machine Operator

## Related careers

- [Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coating-painting-and-spraying-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $48,250 median pay
- [Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heat-treating-equipment-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $48,750 median pay
- [Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/welding-soldering-and-brazing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $47,920 median pay
- [Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molding-coremaking-and-casting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $44,350 median pay
- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-and-forming-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-synthetic-and-glass-fibers): $46,350 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.