SOC 51-4193 · Production Occupations

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

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$43,960

U.S. median hourly wage$21.14

U.S. employment32,410

Nationally, plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earned a median of $43,960 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 32,410 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: pay and employment by state
State
Iowa	$70,910	$34.09	440	0.3
Washington	$58,000	$27.89	410	0.1
Mississippi	$52,090	$25.04	60	0.1
Arkansas	$51,140	$24.59	230	0.2
Oklahoma	$49,330	$23.71	180	0.1
Oregon	$48,050	$23.10	310	0.2
Nebraska	$48,010	$23.08	400	0.4
Colorado	$47,930	$23.04	190	0.1
Arizona	$47,110	$22.65	640	0.2
Utah	$46,940	$22.57	180	0.1
Ohio	$46,790	$22.49	1,810	0.3
California	$46,760	$22.48	5,600	0.3
Minnesota	$46,730	$22.47	560	0.2
Florida	$46,460	$22.34	530	0.1
New Hampshire	$46,300	$22.26	60	0.1
Massachusetts	$46,150	$22.19	860	0.2
Maine	$45,720	$21.98	170	0.3
Pennsylvania	$45,590	$21.92	1,740	0.3
New York	$45,510	$21.88	830	0.1
South Carolina	$44,560	$21.43	470	0.2
Idaho	$44,470	$21.38	60	0.1
Wisconsin	$44,350	$21.32	940	0.3
Missouri	$44,080	$21.19	150	0.1
North Carolina	$43,540	$20.93	710	0.1
Virginia	$43,380	$20.86	270	0.1
Maryland	$42,030	$20.21	60	0.0
New Jersey	$40,800	$19.62	380	0.1
Tennessee	$39,510	$18.99	1,660	0.5
Georgia	$39,160	$18.83	660	0.1
Texas	$39,060	$18.78	2,090	0.1
Kansas	$38,770	$18.64	360	0.3
Indiana	$38,680	$18.60	1,250	0.4
Illinois	$38,620	$18.57	2,380	0.4
Rhode Island	$38,580	$18.55	450	0.9
Michigan	$37,600	$18.08	3,330	0.8
Nevada	$37,460	$18.01	60	0.0
Connecticut	$37,220	$17.89	620	0.4
Kentucky	$34,680	$16.67	630	0.3
Louisiana	$34,040	$16.36	100	0.1
Alabama	$33,730	$16.22	400	0.2

Pay by metro area

All 104 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Ogden, UT	$70,490	$33.89	60	0.2
Oklahoma City, OK	$65,040	$31.27	90	0.1
Omaha, NE-IA	$61,880	$29.75	40	0.1
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$59,720	$28.71	50	0.5
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$58,400	$28.08	210	0.1
Jacksonville, FL	$56,350	$27.09	40	0.1
Reading, PA	$55,230	$26.55	100	0.6
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$53,680	$25.81	460	0.2
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$50,870	$24.46	600	0.5
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$50,520	$24.29	70	0.3
Lancaster, PA	$50,080	$24.08	80	0.3
New Haven, CT	$49,100	$23.61	50	0.2
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$48,810	$23.47	50	0.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$48,690	$23.41	340	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$48,610	$23.37	100	0.3
Columbus, OH	$48,610	$23.37	90	0.1
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$48,360	$23.25	50	0.2
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$48,250	$23.20	300	0.2
Lincoln, NE	$48,040	$23.10	200	1.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$47,930	$23.04	130	0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$47,740	$22.95	100	0.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$47,630	$22.90	540	0.5
Cleveland, OH	$47,440	$22.81	570	0.6
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$47,410	$22.79	50	0.0
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$47,310	$22.75	500	0.2
Spartanburg, SC	$47,310	$22.74	30	0.2
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$47,200	$22.69	550	0.2
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$46,790	$22.49	290	0.8
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$46,760	$22.48	400	0.2
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$46,630	$22.42	310	0.4
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$46,420	$22.32	3,160	0.5
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$46,130	$22.18	270	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$46,120	$22.18	200	0.2
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$46,120	$22.17	70	0.2
Portland-South Portland, ME	$45,720	$21.98	140	0.5
Utica-Rome, NY	$45,650	$21.95	30	0.3
Kansas City, MO-KS	$45,540	$21.89	70	0.1
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$45,520	$21.89	70	0.2
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$45,480	$21.86	110	0.7
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$45,300	$21.78	130	0.1
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$45,050	$21.66	350	0.2
Springfield, MA	$45,000	$21.64	160	0.8
Tulsa, OK	$44,970	$21.62	60	0.1
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$44,880	$21.58	560	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$44,840	$21.56	180	0.1
Akron, OH	$44,630	$21.46	70	0.2
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$44,600	$21.44	100	0.2
Pittsburgh, PA	$44,590	$21.44	460	0.4
Rochester, NY	$44,540	$21.41	50	0.1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$43,840	$21.08	210	0.1
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$43,250	$20.80	140	0.3
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$43,110	$20.73	90	0.1
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$43,020	$20.68	70	0.3
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$42,990	$20.67	70	0.1
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$42,900	$20.62	60	0.1
Appleton, WI	$42,340	$20.36	50	0.4
York-Hanover, PA	$42,290	$20.33	130	0.7
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$42,280	$20.33	260	0.8
Monroe, MI	$42,240	$20.31	110	2.6
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$41,870	$20.13	30	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$41,610	$20.01	40	0.0
Jackson, MI	$41,190	$19.80	80	1.4
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$41,010	$19.72	60	0.1
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$40,040	$19.25	120	0.3
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$40,040	$19.25	200	0.2
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$39,820	$19.14	60	0.0
Tucson, AZ	$39,520	$19.00	40	0.1
Huntsville, AL	$39,480	$18.98	50	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$39,440	$18.96	280	0.7
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$39,420	$18.95	540	0.1
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$39,230	$18.86	60	0.5
Fort Wayne, IN	$39,210	$18.85	130	0.6
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$39,190	$18.84	430	0.1
Battle Creek, MI	$39,070	$18.78	90	1.6
Green Bay, WI	$39,010	$18.76	120	0.7
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$38,880	$18.69	880	0.3
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$38,830	$18.67	1,870	0.4
Wichita, KS	$38,770	$18.64	220	0.7
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$38,740	$18.63	540	0.8
Fresno, CA	$38,380	$18.45	60	0.1
Columbus, IN	$38,280	$18.40	240	4.7
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$38,240	$18.38	140	0.2
Jackson, TN	$38,220	$18.37	90	1.1
Rockford, IL	$37,840	$18.19	180	1.3
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$37,820	$18.19	1,620	0.8
Reno, NV	$37,460	$18.01	30	0.1
Ann Arbor, MI	$37,450	$18.00	50	0.2
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$37,160	$17.86	190	1.2
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$37,090	$17.83	40	0.4
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$36,960	$17.77	780	1.3
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$36,900	$17.74	100	0.3
Erie, PA	$36,870	$17.73	130	1.1
Syracuse, NY	$36,720	$17.66	60	0.2
St. Louis, MO-IL	$36,380	$17.49	160	0.1
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$36,330	$17.46	100	0.4
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$35,770	$17.20	260	0.4
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	$35,620	$17.13	80	1.3
Niles, MI	$35,290	$16.97	40	0.7
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$35,110	$16.88	140	1.1
Birmingham, AL	$33,430	$16.07	140	0.3
Kenosha, WI	$28,990	$13.94	80	1.0
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$28,380	$13.65	150	0.5
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$27,520	$13.23	110	0.4
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$25,990	$12.50	30	0.2

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.