As of June 2026, Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has an AI-exposure score of 45/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
AI Exposure Score for
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
45/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High
More exposed than 22% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$43,960. About 2,500 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
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How you compare to similar Production roles
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (you)
45
Butchers and Meat Cutters
45
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
45
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
45
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
46
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
44
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Your tasks, by AI exposure
Automatable
- Measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales.
- Read production schedules to determine setups of equipment and machines.
Augmentable
- Maintain production records.
- Adjust dials to regulate 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.
- Suspend sticks or pieces of plating metal from anodes, or positive terminals, and immerse metal in plating solutions.
- Suspend objects, such as parts or molds from cathode rods, or negative terminals, and immerse objects in plating solutions.
- Test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Monitor and measure thicknesses of electroplating on component parts to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers.
- Determine sizes and compositions of objects to be plated, and amounts of electrical current and time required.
- Examine completed objects to determine thicknesses of metal deposits, or measure thicknesses by using instruments such as micrometers.
- 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.
- Immerse objects to be coated or plated into cleaning solutions, or spray objects with conductive solutions to prepare them for plating.
- Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines.
- Measure, mark, and mask areas to be excluded from plating.
- Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids and dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.
Durable
- 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 controls to set temperatures of coating substances and speeds of machines and equipment.
- Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
Safer adjacent roles
YOUR ROLE TODAY
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 45→
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
47
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$47,920
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
50
72% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$48,750
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
41
64% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$48,250
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
47
56% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$44,350
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
57
48% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$46,350
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
47
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$46,170
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
52
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$46,460
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
55
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$45,760
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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.