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Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic by $30K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic land at $43,960 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is Iowa ($70,910); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$43,960
$74,450
Hourly rate
$21.14/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,790
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$60,370
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
32,410
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
-13.6%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Iowa
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic median pay.

State
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Washington
$58,000
$79,310
Colorado
$47,930
$78,890
Arizona
$47,110
$75,330
California
$46,760
$76,840
Minnesota
$46,730
$78,550
New Hampshire
$46,300
$79,310
Massachusetts
$46,150
$79,920
Maine
$45,720
$78,970
New York
$45,510
$78,580
South Carolina
$44,560
$77,500
Maryland
$42,030
$78,520
New Jersey
$40,800
$81,110
Rhode Island
$38,580
$81,650
Connecticut
$37,220
$83,150
Louisiana
$34,040
$77,520

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $43,960 for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $30K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to -13.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic get paid the most?

Iowa is the top-paying state for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic at $70,910/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn $58,000 vs. $79,310 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plasticGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →