An operating device, such as a human-machine interface, in particular for a vehicle component, comprising - a front wall with a front side including a plurality of fixed symbol fields and with a rear side, - a capacitive proximity sensor system including individual electrodes associated with the symbol fields, which electrodes are arranged at the side rear side of the front wall, and - a carrier plate facing the rear side of the front wall, which carrier plate is arranged in spaced relationship to the front wall, - wherein the capacitive proximity sensor system comprises an evaluating unit connected with the electrodes for identifying that symbol field which is approached by an object, in particular a hand or a finger of a hand, - wherein between the front wall and the carrier plate electrode carrier elements associated with the individual symbol fields are arranged, - wherein each electrode carrier element includes an electrode end facing the rear side of the front wall, which electrode end is provided with an electrode, and an opposite contact end electrically contacting a contact field of the carrier plate electrically connected with the evaluating unit, and - wherein the electrode end of each electrode carrier element includes a protruding contact edge extending at least partially around the symbol field associated with the electrode carrier element and abutting on the rear side of the front wall, - wherein the electrode is formed along the contact edge of the electrode carrier element without being electrically connected to the front wall, and - wherein each electrode carrier element includes an electrically conducting area for electrical connection of its electrode with its contact end and thus with the contact field of the carrier plate, characterized in that - at the contact end of each electrode carrier element at least one spring arm integrally formed with the electrode carrier element is arranged in a manner elastically abutting on the carrier plate. - a front wall with a front side including a plurality of fixed symbol fields and with a rear side, - a capacitive proximity sensor system including individual electrodes associated with the symbol fields, which electrodes are arranged at the side rear side of the front wall, and - a carrier plate facing the rear side of the front wall, which carrier plate is arranged in spaced relationship to the front wall, - wherein the capacitive proximity sensor system comprises an evaluating unit connected with the electrodes for identifying that symbol field which is approached by an object, in particular a hand or a finger of a hand, - wherein between the front wall and the carrier plate electrode carrier elements associated with the individual symbol fields are arranged, - wherein each electrode carrier element includes an electrode end facing the rear side of the front wall, which electrode end is provided with an electrode, and an opposite contact end electrically contacting a contact field of the carrier plate electrically connected with the evaluating unit, and - wherein the electrode end of each electrode carrier element includes a protruding contact edge extending at least partially around the symbol field associated with the electrode carrier element and abutting on the rear side of the front wall, - wherein the electrode is formed along the contact edge of the electrode carrier element without being electrically connected to the front wall, and - wherein each electrode carrier element includes an electrically conducting area for electrical connection of its electrode with its contact end and thus with the contact field of the carrier plate, - at the contact end of each electrode carrier element at least one spring arm integrally formed with the electrode carrier element is arranged in a manner elastically abutting on the carrier plate.