What Do Plating Machine Operators Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Plating Machine Operators

Plating Machine Operators 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.

Salary
$36950
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Plating Machine Operators 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.

  • Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
  • Adjust dials to regulate the flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
  • Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Plating Machine Operators test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly. They spray coating in specified patterns according to instructions.

A typical day for a Plating Machine Operators will also include:

  • Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
  • 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.
  • Adjust dials to regulate the flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
  • Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
  • Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids and dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Plating Machine Operators also cut metal or other materials, using shears or band saws. They may also clean workpieces, using wire brushes.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Plating Machine Operators replace worn parts and adjust equipment components, using hand tools. They might also perform equipment maintenance, such as cleaning tanks and lubricating moving parts of conveyors.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them install gears and holding devices on conveyor equipment.

To some Plating Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to preheat workpieces in ovens.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Demand for this career is declining.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$36950 per year

Average hourly wage

$18 per hour

Entry-level Plating Machine Operators with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $25,530 to $29,040 per year or $12 to $14 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $52,140 $25
Senior (Top 25%) $42,240 $20
Median $34,850 $17
Junior (Bottom 25%) $29,040 $14
No experience (Bottom 10%) $25,530 $12

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Plating Machine Operators based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $61050 $29.35
Federal Executive Branch $56360 $27.10
Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers $46390 $22.30
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $44040 $21.17
Foundries $43910 $21.11
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing $43590 $20.96
Support Activities for Air Transportation $42730 $20.54
Machinery Manufacturing $41650 $20.02
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing $41330 $19.87
Communications Equipment Manufacturing $41110 $19.76

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Plating Machine Operators work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Plating Machine Operators including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 22390 $35370 $17.01
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 2460 $37400 $17.98
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 1830 $36420 $17.51
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 1350 $36690 $17.64
Machinery Manufacturing 1240 $41650 $20.02
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 930 $37750 $18.15
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 690 $61050 $29.35
Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing 680 $38100 $18.32
Plastics Product Manufacturing 670 $35890 $17.26
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 540 $38610 $18.56

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
66%

More than 40 hours
34%

Working schedule

91%

9%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
1%

Every day
12%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
10%

Every day
4%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
4%

Every day
77%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
71%

Once a year
27%

Once a month
2%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
11%

Slightly competitive
38%

Moderately competitive
37%

Highly competitive
13%

Extremely competitive
1%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
57%

Once a year or more
14%

Once a month or more
3%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
25%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
22%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
78%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
82%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
9%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
6%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
91%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
6%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
49%

High School Diploma or equivalent
47%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
1%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
3%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
51%

1 month
14%

1 to 3 months
3%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
11%

1 to 2 years
5%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 6 years
9%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
14%

1 month
12%

1 to 3 months
22%

3 to 6 months
22%

6 months to 1 year
7%

1 to 2 years
9%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
14%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
33%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
19%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
48%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
36%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
33%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
29%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.

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