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BLSSalary

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary (2025)

Based on 32,410 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$45,100
$21.69/hr
Annual Median
$43,960
$21.14/hr
Bottom 10%
$33,790
$16.25/hr
Top 10%
$60,370
$29.02/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$33,790
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$37,260
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$43,960
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$49,600
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$60,370

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$34K

25th

$37K

Median

$44K

75th

$50K

90th

$60K

Highest Paying States for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
Iowa$59,160
Washington$59,100
Arkansas$52,750
Utah$52,190
Oklahoma$51,950
Oregon$51,420
Mississippi$50,690
Colorado$49,750
Georgia$49,250
Nebraska$48,870

Geographic Salary Variation

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is Iowa at an average of $59,160 per year, while Nebraska has an average of $48,870 — a difference of $10,290. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 32,410 workers were employed as Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in the United States as of May 2025. This occupation is classified under Production Occupations. The annual mean wage of $45,100 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 51-4193

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($33,790) represents entry-level or part-time Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics, while the 90th percentile ($60,370) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($43,960) is the midpoint — half of all Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Data sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Public domain. Not affiliated with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.