Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production
Runs plating machines that coat metal or plastic parts with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or another metal, usually by immersing them in molten metal or an electrolytic bath. Current and voltage are set with dials; parts stay in for a specified time and come out at intervals so coverage can be checked. Air bubbles, uneven coating, and other defects are inspected, extra material is taken off with air hoses or grinders, and gauges are watched so the machine can be adjusted or stopped. Production records are kept. Suits people who like tending coating baths, watching process gauges, and inspecting surface finish on a set schedule.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$43'960
Median Wage Market Position
$43'960
What you might do
- Dip parts in plating baths for set times
- Regulate current and voltage during plating
- Inspect plated surfaces for bubbles and thin spots
- Watch gauges and stop machines when needed
- Grind or blow off extra material
- Keep records of the plating production
Skills that matter
- Immersing parts in plating baths on time
- Tuning current and voltage at terminals
- Spotting air bubbles and uneven coating
- Watching gauges and shutting down faults
- Keeping production records for each run
- Coordinating work with the plating crew
AI & the future of this role
Running plating lines still requires careful setup, bath chemistry awareness, and finish inspection that automation only partly covers. Recipe software and robotic handling may ease routine coating cycles, while process control and defect judgment tend to hold up.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details