Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat treat metal or plastic objects.
Also called: Batch Heat Treat Operator · Burner · Coating Line Worker · Furnace Operator · Heat Treat Furnace Operator · Heat Treat Operator
Median pay (national)
$47,450
$35,260–$64,290 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
14,590
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-12.8%
~1,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $64,290 versus $35,260 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $47,450 leaves roughly 35% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -12.8% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 1,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 35 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $64,040, +35% vs the national median), while Arkansas sits lowest at $34,970 — a 83% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Word as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations.
- Instruct new workers in machine operation.
- Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
- Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
- Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
- Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.
- Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
- Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.
- Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
- Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology