How much does a metal plating operator make?
a year · about $21 an hour
A typical metal plating operator in the United States makes $43,960 a year, about $21 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They hang cleaned parts on racks, dip them in a plating bath, and set the current and timing while watching gauges. Then they rinse and inspect for bubbles or uneven coating, measure the metal layer, and record results.
Did you know? Gold plating isn't just for jewelry: a thin gold layer on electrical connectors can change their electrical conductivity.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $33,790 and $60,370How do you become one?
In the U.S., a high school diploma or GED is often preferred, and employers train new hires on the job; many start after high school, around 18. A registered “Plater” apprenticeship is another route.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and skill with precise machine setups and chemical checks can affect pay; extra training or a useful certificate may help. Pay also differs by factory or industry and location, while evening or weekend shifts and overtime can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Arizona ($47,110), lowest in Kentucky ($34,680).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a metal finisher averages $29,897. Metal plating operator salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $33,790 | $43,960 | $60,370 | about 32,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $47,110 | about 640 |
| Ohio | $46,790 | about 2,000 |
| California | $46,760 | about 6,000 |
| Minnesota | $46,730 | about 560 |
| Florida | $46,460 | about 530 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-9124).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4193.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514193.htm
- www.epa.gov/eg/electroplating-effluent-guidelines
- www.sbeap.org/sites/sbeap/files/publications/P2finishingshop.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY