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.

Also called: Anodizer, Anodizing Line Operator, Chrome Plater, Coater Associate, Coater Operator, Electro Plater, Galvanizer, Line Operator, Machine Operator, Plater, Alodize Machine Operator, Anode Machine Operator, Anodic Operator, Anodic Treater, Anodize Machine Operator, Anodizing Operator, Anodizing Technician, Automatic Metal Spraying Machine Operator, Barrel Plater, Black Oxide Coating Equipment Tender, Bronze Plater, Browning Processor, Bullet Lubricating Machine Operator, Carbon Paper Coating Machine Setter, Ceramic Coater, Chrome Worker, Chromium Plater, Coater, Coating and Baking Operator, Coating Machine Operator, Component Prep Operator, Component Runner, Copper Plater, Corrosion Prevention Metal Sprayer, Custom Applicator, Electric Plater, Electroformer, Electrogalvanizing Machine Operator, Electroless Plater, Electrolytic Plating and Coating Machine Setup Operator, Electroplater, Electroplating Technician, Electroplating Worker, Flow Solder Operator, Galvanizing Pot Runner, Gettering Filament Machine Operator, Gold Plater, Hard Chrome Plater, Hot Dip Galvanizer, Hot Dip Plater, Impregnation Operator, Impregnator, Jewelry Coater, Lacquer Dipping Machine Operator, Lacquerer, Lock Plater, Lubricating Machine Tender, Machine Ceramic Coater, Matrix Bath Attendant, Matrix Bath Operator, Matrix Operator, Matrix Plater, Matrix Worker, Metal and Plastic Nonelectrolytic Plating and Coating Machine Operator, Metal and Plastic Nonelectrolytic Plating and Coating Machine Set-Up Operator, Metal and Plastic Nonelectrolytic Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Metal and Plastic Nonelectrolytic Plating and Coating Machine Tender, Metal Coater, Metal Coater Operator, Metal Plater, Metal Sprayer, Metal Spraying Machine Operator, Metal Wire Coating Operator, Metal Wire Technician, Metalizer, Metalizing Machine Operator, Nail Galvanizer, Nickel Plater, Oxidized Finish Plater, Pasting Machine Operator, Plastics Plater, Plastics Spreading Machine Operator, Plate Former, Plating Equipment Tender, Plating Machine Operator, Plating Operator, Plating Tank Operator, Plating Technician, Primer Waterproofing Machine Operator, Printed Circuit Board Panels Electroless Plater, Printed Circuit Board Panels Plater, Printed Circuit Boards Solder-Leveler, Production Plater, Racker, Semiconductor Wafers and Components Plater, Shell Plater, Silver Plater, Silver Spray Worker, Silvering Applicator, Spray Machine Tender, Sprayer Operator, Tin Plater, Tin Pot Operator, Tinning Equipment Tender, Tube Coater, Unracker, Vacuum Applicator Operator, Vacuum Metalizer Operator, Welding Rod Coater, Zinc Plater, Zinc Plating Machine Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Examine completed objects to determine thicknesses of metal deposits, or measure thicknesses by using instruments such as micrometers.
Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids and dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Coordination
Quality Control Analysis
Time Management
Judgment and Decision Making
Writing

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (49.20% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,260–49,600 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4193.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (49.20% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

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