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Tumbling machine operator

Also called tub washer, machine washer, washer engineer

Tumbling machine operators set up and operate tumbling machines, often wet or drie tumbling barrels, designed to remove excess material and burrs of heavy metal workpieces and precious metals and to improve surface appearance, by rotating the metal pieces in a barrel together with grit and potentially water, allowing for the friction between the pieces mutually and with the grit to cause a rounding, smooth effect.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 10 countries now. 22 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Stationary plant and machine operatorsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Stationary plant and machine operatorsWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 6 in 10 train through vocational routes.Stationary plant and machine operatorsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Metal finishing, plating and coating machine operators · ILO

What you'd do

Metal finishing, plating and coating machine operators · ILO
  • Operating and monitoring equipment which cleans metal articles in preparation for electroplating, galvanizing, enamelling or similar processes
  • Operating and monitoring electroplating equipment
  • Operating and monitoring hot-dip equipment used to coat iron and steel products
  • Operating and monitoring machines which automatically coat wire with non-ferrous metal
  • Operating and monitoring equipment used to spray molten metal or other substances onto metal products to provide a protective or decorative coating or to build up worn or damaged surfaces
  • Operating and monitoring equipment used to impart a rust-resistant finish to metal articles by treating them with chemicals and heating them
  • Checking proper thickness of plating using micrometers, callipers or other devices recording data and writing production logs
  • Preparing and mixing metalizing solutions according to formulas or specifications
Monitor moving workpiece in a machineSpot metal imperfectionsRemove inadequate workpiecesRemove processed workpieceSmooth burred surfaces+ 7 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, mostly with colleagues
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

10 EU countries are short of metal finishing, plating and coating machine operators now, but fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as stationary plant and machine operators in the EU
4.79m4.76m4.7m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,125,000 replacing leavers 71,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Stationary plant and machine operators22
All jobs29
Right now
10 of 27 countries report a shortage of metal finishing, plating and coating machine operators, 2 a surplus.
Metal finishing, plating and coating machine operators · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among plant and machine operators, and assemblers in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in mechanics and metal trades is the usual route.

Highest qualification of stationary plant and machine operators (EU, 2025)
Degree 8%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 29%
Field that teaches it
Mechanics and metal trades
Vocational route, EU
6 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.20 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Checking proper thickness of plating using micrometers, callipers or other devices recording data and writing production logs0.28
Operating and monitoring electroplating equipment0.23
Operating and monitoring hot-dip equipment used to coat iron and steel products0.22
Operating and monitoring equipment used to spray molten metal or other substances onto metal products to provide a protective or decorative coating or to build up worn or damaged surfaces0.21
Operating and monitoring equipment used to impart a rust-resistant finish to metal articles by treating them with chemicals and heating them0.18
Operating and monitoring machines which automatically coat wire with non-ferrous metal0.18
Preparing and mixing metalizing solutions according to formulas or specifications0.17
Operating and monitoring equipment which cleans metal articles in preparation for electroplating, galvanizing, enamelling or similar processes0.16

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for metal finishing, plating and coating machine operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).