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Chrome plater: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$43,960median pay per year, or $21.14 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,790lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,26025th percentile
  3. $43,960median
  4. $49,60075th percentile
  5. $60,370top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders was $43,960 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to decline 9.7% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-9.7%[2]
Openings per year
2,500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do chrome platers make?

O*NET lists chrome plater as a job title in the category BLS calls Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic[7]. The median wage was $43,960 a year, or $21.14 an hour[1]. About half of workers were paid more than this and half were paid less[1]. The average was $45,100 a year, or $21.69 an hour[8].

For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4]. So the median here sat below that figure.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,790 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $60,370[3]. The 25th percentile was $37,260 and the 75th was $49,600[3]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $16.25 and the 90th was $29.02[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

Iowa had the highest state median at $70,910, followed by Washington at $58,000 and Mississippi at $52,090[12]. Alabama had the lowest listed median at $33,730[12].

California had the most jobs at 5,600[13]. Michigan (3,330), Illinois (2,380), Texas (2,090) and Ohio (1,810) came next[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $58,400[14]. Reading, PA ($55,230) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($53,680) followed[14]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs at 3,160, with a median of $46,420[15].

Show median pay in 40 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Iowa[12]$70,910440
Washington$58,000410
Mississippi$52,09060
Arkansas$51,140230
Oklahoma$49,330180
Oregon$48,050310
Nebraska$48,010400
Colorado$47,930190
Arizona$47,110640
Utah$46,940180
Ohio$46,7901,810
California$46,7605,600
Minnesota$46,730560
Florida$46,460530
New Hampshire$46,30060
Massachusetts$46,150860
Maine$45,720170
Pennsylvania$45,5901,740
New York$45,510830
South Carolina$44,560470
Idaho$44,47060
Wisconsin$44,350940
Missouri$44,080150
North Carolina$43,540710
Virginia$43,380270
Maryland$42,03060
New Jersey$40,800380
Tennessee$39,5101,660
Georgia$39,160660
Texas$39,0602,090
Kansas$38,770360
Indiana$38,6801,250
Illinois$38,6202,380
Rhode Island$38,580450
Michigan$37,6003,330
Nevada$37,46060
Connecticut$37,220620
Kentucky$34,680630
Louisiana$34,040100
Alabama$33,730400

How to become a chrome plater

The typical path is short and has few gates:

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile that covers this job is written for a wider group of metal and plastic machine workers[16]. It says these workers typically train on the job for 1 year[17]. Training time depends on how complex the equipment is. Some workers learn basic machine operations in a few months, and others need up to a year[18]. Trainees usually start by watching and helping experienced workers[19].

In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 49% said less than a high school diploma is required and 47% said a high school diploma or equivalent[20].

With experience, workers can move into setup or machinery maintenance jobs[21]. Those with good communication and analytical skills may become supervisors[22].

What chrome platers do

Plating machine workers coat metal or plastic products with metals such as chromium, zinc, copper or nickel to protect or decorate the surface[23]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles workers report include chrome plater, electro plater, galvanizer and anodizing line operator[7].

Where they work

The OOH figures below describe metal and plastic machine workers as a wider group[16]. Fabricated metal product manufacturing was the largest employer, at 25%[25]. Most of these workers are employed full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[26]. Evening and weekend work is common because many plants run machines for long stretches[26].

The machines can be dangerous, so workers follow safety rules and usually wear protective gear such as safety glasses, earplugs and steel-toed boots[27]. The work also calls for standing for long periods and doing repetitive tasks[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 33,300 to 30,100 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[29].

BLS names productivity change as a factor. Robotics, CNC machinery and other equipment let employers make more with the same amount of labor[30].

Jobs still open up. About 2,500 openings a year are projected on average, which include workers who retire or move to other occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The entry bar is a high school diploma with no related experience, plus on-the-job training[6]. Pay was below the all-occupation median, though the top 10% earned more than $60,370[1][4][3]. Employment is projected to shrink, so the openings that exist come mainly from workers leaving or changing occupations[2][5]. People who are comfortable with machines and can stand for long periods may find the work a match[32][28]. State matters, since the median ranged from $33,730 in Alabama to $70,910 in Iowa[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chrome plater make an hour?
The median was $21.14 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $21.69[1][8].
What education do you need to be a chrome plater?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Is chrome plater work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, while about 2,500 openings a year are projected[2][5].
What is the highest paying state for plating machine operators?
Iowa had the highest median at $70,910, then Washington at $58,000[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US was $43,960 per year and $21.14 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to decline 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 33,300 to 30,100 jobs (a change of -3,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $33,790, 25th percentile $37,260, 75th percentile $49,600, 90th percentile $60,370. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,500 openings for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 51-4193.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Anodizer, Anodizing Line Operator, Chrome Plater, Coater Associate, Coater Operator, Electro Plater, Galvanizer, Line Operator. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $45,100 per year and $21.69 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $16.25, 25th percentile $17.91, 75th percentile $23.85, 90th percentile $29.02. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs: California 5,600; Michigan 3,330; Illinois 2,380; Texas 2,090; Ohio 1,810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $58,400; Reading, PA $55,230; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $53,680; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $50,870; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $48,690; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $48,610; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $48,250; Lincoln, NE $48,040. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,160 (median $46,420); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,870 (median $38,830); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,620 (median $37,820); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 880 (median $38,880); Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 780 (median $36,960); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 600 (median $50,870). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Metal and Plastic Machine Workers" covers Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 51-4193.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 49%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 47% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  25. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Productivity change - share decreases as improvements in robotics, CNC operated machinery, and other industrial equipment increase efficiency, allowing more output to be produced with the same amount of labor. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.