Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in California
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California earn a median of $46,760 a year ($22.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,610 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $43,960. California ranks 12th of 40 states for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay. There are 0.31 plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 25th percentile | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Median | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 75th percentile | $51,180 | $24.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| Average (mean) | $47,610 | $22.89 |
Half of plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,896.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,948.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,798.46 |
| Weekly | $899.23 |
| Hourly | $22.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,760 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $53,680 | 460 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,870 | 600 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,520 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,420 | 3,160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,130 | 270 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,120 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,300 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,050 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $42,280 | 260 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,380 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Iowa | $70,910 |
| Washington | $58,000 |
| Mississippi | $52,090 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 |
| Oklahoma | $49,330 |
| Oregon | $48,050 |
| Nebraska | $48,010 |
| Colorado | $47,930 |
| Arizona | $47,110 |
| Utah | $46,940 |
See Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4193. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in California?
The median salary for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California is $46,760 a year, or $22.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in California?
The top 10% of plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California earn at least $59,610 a year. The top 25% earn $51,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,730 a year, and a quarter of plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $39,390 or less.
How many plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in California?
About 5,600 plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.