How much does a plating machine setter make?
The median plating machine setter in the United States earns $43,960 per year, about $21.14 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all plating machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-4193.
Plating machine setter salary range
Pay for plating machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,790 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $60,370. The average (mean) wage of $45,100 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,790 | $16.25 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | $17.91 | |
| Median (50th) | $43,960 | $21.14 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $49,600 | $23.85 | |
| 90th percentile | $60,370 | $29.02 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4193), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Plating machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Plating machine setters earn the most in Iowa at $70,910 a year, and the least in Alabama at $33,730. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $70,910 | 440 |
| Washington | $58,000 | 410 |
| Mississippi | $52,090 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $49,330 | 180 |
| Oregon | $48,050 | 310 |
| Nebraska | $48,010 | 400 |
| Colorado | $47,930 | 190 |
| Arizona | $47,110 | 640 |
| Utah | $46,940 | 180 |
| Ohio | $46,790 | 1,810 |
| California | $46,760 | 5,600 |
| Minnesota | $46,730 | 560 |
| Florida | $46,460 | 530 |
| New Hampshire | $46,300 | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $46,150 | 860 |
| Maine | $45,720 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,590 | 1,740 |
| New York | $45,510 | 830 |
| South Carolina | $44,560 | 470 |
| Idaho | $44,470 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $44,350 | 940 |
| Missouri | $44,080 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $43,540 | 710 |
| Virginia | $43,380 | 270 |
| Maryland | $42,030 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $40,800 | 380 |
| Tennessee | $39,510 | 1,660 |
| Georgia | $39,160 | 660 |
| Texas | $39,060 | 2,090 |
| Kansas | $38,770 | 360 |
| Indiana | $38,680 | 1,250 |
| Illinois | $38,620 | 2,380 |
| Rhode Island | $38,580 | 450 |
| Michigan | $37,600 | 3,330 |
| Nevada | $37,460 | 60 |
| Connecticut | $37,220 | 620 |
| Kentucky | $34,680 | 630 |
| Louisiana | $34,040 | 100 |
| Alabama | $33,730 | 400 |
State median wages for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4193), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for plating machine setters
The BLS projects employment of plating machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 9.7%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 33,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 30,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,500 openings a year for plating machine setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a plating machine setter
The typical entry-level education for plating machine setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a plating machine setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Iowa, $70,910) and the lowest (Alabama, $33,730) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 32,410 people work as plating machine setters in the United States. At $43,960 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Plating machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a plating machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a plating machine setter is $21.14. The middle half of plating machine setters earn between $17.91 and $23.85 per hour.
What is the highest plating machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of plating machine setters earn more than $60,370 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a plating machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a plating machine setter is $43,960. The average (mean) wage of $45,100 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a plating machine setter a well paid job?
At $43,960 a year, a plating machine setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 32,410 people work as plating machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays plating machine setters the most?
Iowa has the highest median salary for plating machine setters at $70,910 a year. Washington ($58,000) and Mississippi ($52,090) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a plating machine setter a good career?
Employment of plating machine setters is projected to shrink 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a plating machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for plating machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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