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

> 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-4193.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Anodizer
- Chrome Plater
- Electro Plater
- Plater
- Anodizing Line Operator
- Coater Associate
- Coater Operator
- Galvanizer
- Line Operator
- Machine Operator
- Alodize Machine Operator
- Anode Machine Operator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Maintain production records. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly, making adjustments or stopping machines when problems occur. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Determine sizes and compositions of objects to be plated, and amounts of electrical current and time required. | Supplemental | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.l |
| Measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Measure, mark, and mask areas to be excluded from plating. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.3.a |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Operate painting or coating equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Feed materials or products into or through equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Conduct test runs of production equipment. | 4.A.1.b.2.l |
| Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Load materials into production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Position containers to receive materials or workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.v |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Lubricate production equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Determine metal or plastic production methods. | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Clean workpieces or finished products. | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Mix substances to create chemical solutions. | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Load items into ovens or furnaces. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures. | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Replace worn equipment components. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Trim excess material from workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Operate grinding equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.l |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 4.17 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.5 |
| Chemistry | knowledge | 3.43 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.39 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.38 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.38 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.3 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 3.27 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.25 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.25 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.25 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.23 |
| Law and Government | knowledge | 3.13 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.11 |
| Design | knowledge | 3.07 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.05 |
| Transportation | knowledge | 3.02 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Procurement Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Hazardous materials management HMS software | Compliance software | no | no |
| Oracle Advanced Procurement | Procurement software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Time Pressure | 4.94 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.79 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.71 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.58 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.57 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.4 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.27 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.22 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.2 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.15 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 4.14 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 4.07 |
| Contact With Others | 3.91 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.9 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.85 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.62 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.57 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.52 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.49 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.47 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.43 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.41 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.37 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.36 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.34 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.22 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.21 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.99 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.81 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 2.78 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.71 |
| Level of Competition | 2.54 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 2.36 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 2.23 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.23 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.22 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.2 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.17 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.01 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 49.2 |
| High School Diploma | 46.75 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 3.43 |
| Some College Courses | 0.62 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 7 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.1 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.49 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.43 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 2.95 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.23 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.22 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.06 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.98 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 1.63 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.56 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 1.41 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 1.31 |
| Applied Arts and Design | specific_interest_area | 1.24 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 1.19 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-9124.00 | role-51-9124-00 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-4191.00 | role-51-4191-00 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-4122.00 | role-51-4122-00 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-4072.00 | role-51-4072-00 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-9195.00 | role-51-9195-00 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-6091.00 | role-51-6091-00 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Primary-Long |
| 51-9191.00 | role-51-9191-00 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9041.00 | role-51-9041-00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9012.00 | role-51-9012-00 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-6061.00 | role-51-6061-00 | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9022.00 | role-51-9022-00 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | Supplemental |
| 51-9123.00 | role-51-9123-00 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 41600
- **Mean Wage:** 43820
- **Pct10Wage:** 31940
- **Pct25Wage:** 36620
- **Pct75Wage:** 48990
- **Pct90Wage:** 58320
- **Employment:** 31510
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 30440 | 41600 | 11.67 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 500 | 35770 | 0.27 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 500 | 35770 | 0.92 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 190 | 46950 | 3.58 |
| 339910 | 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | National industry | 40 | 38190 |  |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector |  | 38800 |  |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector |  | 57300 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 30440 | 11.67 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 190 | 3.58 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 500 | 0.92 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 500 | 0.27 |
- **Count:** 7

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.92 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.8999876 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.9970344 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.8283305 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 21
- **Percentile:** 18
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 21 | felten_aioe |
| 19 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 23 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.8999876 | 21 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.14583333333333331 | 19 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.08049295277233179 | 23 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.92
- **Percentile:** 82
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.0625
- **Beta:** 0.10416666666666666
- **Gamma:** 0.14583333333333331

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -13.6
- **Growth Percentile:** 3
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 2.5
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 33
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 31.7
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 27.4

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 1
- **Task Count:** 1
- **Total Sample:** 30
- **Autonomy Median:** 2
- **Dominant Collaboration:** directive
- **Automation Share:** 70

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| directive | 70 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| personal | 66.67 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales. | 0.0030003750468808603 | directive | 2 | 30 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales. | 96.66666666666667 | 30 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Do this for me: measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 33
- **Skills:** 35
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 6
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** a80316b94682b727