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

Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Includes electrolytic processes.

Median Annual Wage: $30,210

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (67%); Less than high school diploma (28%); Post-secondary certificate (5%)

Projected Growth: Decline (-3% or lower)

Related Job Titles: Machine Operator; Coater Operator; Coater Associate; Line Operator; Plater; Anodizer; Anodizing Line Operator; Chrome Plater; Electro Plater; Hard Chrome Plater

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.

More Production Careers

  • Immerse objects to be coated or plated into cleaning solutions, or spray objects with conductive solutions to prepare them for plating.
  • Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
  • Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces.
  • Position and feed materials into processing machines, by hand or by using automated equipment.
  • Test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly.
  • Operate hoists to place workpieces onto machine feed carriages or spindles.
  • Maintain production records.
  • Adjust controls to set temperatures of coating substances and speeds of machines and equipment.
  • Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly, making adjustments or stopping machines when problems occur.
  • Position containers to receive parts, and load or unload materials in containers, using dollies or handtrucks.
  • Perform equipment maintenance such as cleaning tanks and lubricating moving parts of conveyors.
  • Clean and maintain equipment, using water hoses and scrapers.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.

  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.

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