Career profile · SOC ESC-27245826

electroplating machine operator

Electroplating machine operators set up and tend electroplating machines designed to finish and coat the metal workpieces' (such as future pennies and jewelry) surface by using electric current to dissolve metal cations and to bond a thin layer of another metal, such as zinc, copper or silver, to produce a coherent metal coating to the workpiece's surface.

electroplating machine operator electroplating machine operators set up and tend electroplating machines designed to finish and coat the metal workpieces' (such as future pennies and jewelry) surface by using electric current to dissolve metal cations and to bond a thin layer of another meta. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include electroplating metal materials, health and safety in the workplace, electroplating processes, electric current, types of metal.

AI exposure
5.0/10
automation risk

Pay in the UK

UK: median £32,871 a year for Metal making and treating process operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)

UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8115). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)

Pay in India (occupation group)

Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only electroplating machine operator, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.

Urban India
₹18,618 a month
Rural India
₹16,257 a month
All India
₹17,301 a month

Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report

Top skills

electroplating metal materials health and safety in the workplace electroplating processes electric current types of metal quality standards electroplating machine parts remove inadequate workpieces troubleshoot remove processed workpiece

Frequently asked questions

What does electroplating machine operator do?

Electroplating machine operators set up and tend electroplating machines designed to finish and coat the metal workpieces' (such as future pennies and jewelry) surface by using electric current to dissolve metal cations and to bond a thin layer of another metal, such as zinc, copper or silver, to produce a coherent metal coating to the workpiece's surface.

What skills does electroplating machine operator need?

The most in-demand skills for this role include electroplating metal materials, health and safety in the workplace, electroplating processes, electric current, types of metal, quality standards. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Will AI replace electroplating machine operator?

Our AI-durability model gives electroplating machine operator a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

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