Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary: $41,600 Median Pay (2026 stats)
Executive Summary
About 31,510 plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work nationally, and $41,600 is the BLS national median annual wage. Projections imply about 1.4% annual growth; much hiring sits in manufacturing.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: what the data shows
Common questions about plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 51-4193.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 31,510 workers.
What does a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Handling and Moving Objects, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Controlling Machines and Processes, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make?
BLS national median annual wage: $41,600 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $48,139 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,192 |
| 25th percentile | $40,546 |
| Median (50th) | $47,574 |
| 75th percentile | $51,176 |
| 90th percentile | $59,599 |
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Time Management, and knowledge areas including Production and Processing, Mathematics, Chemistry, English Language. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 1.4% annual growth (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: 7.0%.
Ten-year projected employment change: 14.6%.
Current U.S. headcount: 31,510.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 31,510 | 19.9% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 31,170 | 19.7% |
| Manufacturing | 30,440 | 19.3% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 22,720 | 14.4% |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 19,990 | 12.7% |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 1,950 | 1.2% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 75,710 | $155,020 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 43,640 | $39,270 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | 36,880 | $52,080 |
| Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 3,320 | $50,280 |
| Physicists | 21,340 | $166,290 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 16,600 | $71,410 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | 34,520 | $103,650 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workforce.
Employment Over Time
31,510 U.S. workforce (OEWS)
California employment for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic grew from 17,600 in 2009 to 21,880 in 2025 (24.3%).
Historical employment for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic from the California OEWS series, 2009–2025. The U.S. workforce figure is national and is not the endpoint of this line.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$41,600 Median pay (BLS national)
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn $41,600 as the BLS national median annual wage.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Salary distribution for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Employment Growth Projections
1.4% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
23,420 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: 7.0%
25,068 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: 14.6%
This occupation is projected to grow at 1.4% annually, indicating strong future demand.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Wage Trends by Industry
1.5% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 5,580 employees, $46,920 avg wage
- MI: 3,460 employees, $39,860 avg wage
- TX: 2,380 employees, $37,820 avg wage
- IN: 1,920 employees, $41,650 avg wage
- IL: 1,880 employees, $43,980 avg wage
- OH: 1,640 employees, $44,840 avg wage
- PA: 1,260 employees, $44,140 avg wage
- TN: 1,060 employees, $42,750 avg wage
- MA: 1,020 employees, $45,540 avg wage
- NY: 1,000 employees, $45,920 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 3,050 employees, $46,340 avg wage
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: 1,870 employees, $39,340 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 1,560 employees, $44,870 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 940 employees, $36,940 avg wage
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 710 employees, $43,010 avg wage
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI: 690 employees, $38,880 avg wage
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 580 employees, $52,680 avg wage
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 570 employees, $46,670 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 550 employees, $37,740 avg wage
- Cleveland, OH: 550 employees, $44,250 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Diversity
Demographic information on Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US.
Gender and Age
The U.S. workforce for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is about 31,510 people in our OEWS extract.
Gender and age distribution for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in 2023 were Engineering, Business, Social Sciences.
Common majors for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic workers.
Education level distribution for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Skills
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic need many skills, but most especially Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening.
Required skills for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic include Production and Processing, Mathematics, Chemistry, English Language, Mechanical.
Knowledge areas required for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic include Near Vision, Control Precision, Problem Sensitivity, Manual Dexterity, Oral Comprehension.
Required abilities for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Daily Activities
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic spend their time on activities such as Handling and Moving Objects, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
Most important work activities for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
About
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn $41,600 as the BLS national median annual wage.
SOC Code
51-4193 - Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic reports an average salary of $48,139.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 31,510 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual growth is 1.4%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.