How much do Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median annual salary of $43,960 in the United States, which works out to roughly $21.13 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $33,790 at the entry level and $60,370 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $37,260 and $49,600 a year.
That is $17,430 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range by percentile
Half of all Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn between $37,260 and $49,600 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,790 | $16.25 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,260 | $17.91 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $43,960 | $21.13 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $49,600 | $23.85 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,370 | $29.02 |
Highest-paying states for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Iowa leads the country for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay at $70,910 a year, followed by Washington ($58,000) and Mississippi ($52,090). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $33,730 — a gap of $37,180 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $70,910 | $34.09 | +61% |
| 2 | Washington | $58,000 | $27.88 | +32% |
| 3 | Mississippi | $52,090 | $25.04 | +18% |
| 4 | Arkansas | $51,140 | $24.59 | +16% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $49,330 | $23.72 | +12% |
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 40 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 32,000 people work as Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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