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Skilled Trades

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 salary (BLS)

$43,960

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$34k – $60k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Entry / Junior

    $33,790

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Established

    $43,960

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Senior

    $52,165

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.