Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Richmond, VA
The median pay for a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Richmond, VA is $45,350/year ($21.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $46,342 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,655/month — about 53.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Richmond?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51K | +22% | 390 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | +17% | 170 |
| Mississippi | $49K | +17% | 100 |
| Oregon | $47K | +12% | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | +12% | 100 |
| Minnesota | $46K | +12% | 720 |
| California | $46K | +11% | 5,580 |
| Utah | $46K | +11% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +9% | 1,020 |
| Iowa | $45K | +9% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +9% | 1,060 |
| Illinois | $45K | +8% | 1,880 |
| Missouri | $44K | +7% | 180 |
| New York | $44K | +6% | 1,000 |
| Ohio | $44K | +5% | 1,640 |
| Kansas | $44K | +5% | 390 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | +3% | 1,260 |
| North Carolina | $42K | +1% | 490 |
| Idaho | $41K | -1% | 60 |
| Arizona | $41K | -3% | 620 |
| Florida | $41K | -3% | 420 |
| Maryland | $40K | -3% | 90 |
| Virginia | $40K | -3% | 320 |
| New Jersey | $40K | -3% | 440 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -4% | 580 |
| Maine | $40K | -4% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -5% | 890 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -6% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -7% | 560 |
| Georgia | $38K | -8% | 660 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -8% | 660 |
| Indiana | $38K | -8% | 1,920 |
| Nevada | $38K | -9% | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -10% | 300 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -11% | 220 |
| Michigan | $37K | -11% | 3,460 |
| Texas | $36K | -13% | 2,380 |
| Alabama | $36K | -14% | 300 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -24% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Richmond numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $45,350 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,510, and experienced plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $52,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,032/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 54.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $46,342 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.