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.
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC: 51-4191 O*NET: 51-4191.00
Median Salary
$47,450
per year
Job Growth
📉 -12.8%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
1.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,260
10th percentile
Early Career
$39,900
25th percentile
Median
$47,450
50th percentile
Experienced
$56,330
75th percentile
Top Earners
$64,290
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,260
25th
$39,900
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$47,450
Mean: $49,030
75th
$56,330
90th
$64,290
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $29,030 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $39,900 and $56,330
- •Salary spread is 34.6% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 14,590 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:14,800
Top Industries
Manufacturing92.1%
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing46.5%
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities27.2%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-12.8%
Annual Openings:1,200
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)14,800
Current
2034 (Projected)12,900
-12.8%
-1,900
Employment Change
-12.8%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 35 locations
Texas
1,940 jobs$43,9101.48x
Ohio
1,580 jobs$49,4603.02x
Pennsylvania
1,410 jobs$49,2502.48x
Michigan
1,220 jobs$48,3202.93x
Indiana
990 jobs$48,5903.30x
Illinois
960 jobs$41,7101.67x
California
800 jobs$48,2800.47x
Wisconsin
510 jobs$47,9501.85x
South Carolina
460 jobs$45,3102.14x
Georgia
440 jobs$40,6700.96x
North Carolina
350 jobs$43,5800.75x
Missouri
320 jobs$48,0701.17x
New York
280 jobs$52,4700.31x
Kentucky
260 jobs$51,3601.37x
Arkansas
240 jobs$34,9701.99x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operation and Control
100%
#2
Operations Monitoring
92%
#3
Speaking
86%
#4
Active Listening
78%
#5
Monitoring
70%
#6
Quality Control Analysis
62%
#7
Critical Thinking
56%
#8
Equipment Maintenance
48%
#9
Judgment and Decision Making
40%
Skills Overview
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Operations Monitoring
advanced4.6
92%
Speaking
intermediate4.3
86%
Active Listening
intermediate3.9
78%
Monitoring
intermediate3.5
70%
Quality Control Analysis
intermediate3.1
62%
Critical Thinking
basic2.8
56%
Equipment Maintenance
basic2.4
48%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operation and Control
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance92%
skills
4.6/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance78%
skills
3.9/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
intermediateImportance62%
skills
3.1/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance56%
abilities
2.8/5.0
Equipment Maintenance
basicImportance48%
skills
2.4/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders78%
5 shared skills
Power Plant Operators73%
5 shared skills
Continuous Mining Machine Operators73%
5 shared skills
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door73%
5 shared skills
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders73%
5 shared skills
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators73%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Quality Control Analysis
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Operation and Control
- ★Active Listening
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechSAP software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
SAP software
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (16)Documentation & Record-Keeping (3)Operations & Execution (1)Training & Development (1)
1
Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping97% perform98%
3
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.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution94% perform96%
4
Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Position stock in furnaces, using tongs, chain hoists, or pry bars.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Instruct new workers in machine operation.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development82% perform88%
8
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.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform86%
9
Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.15
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.05
Independence
ImportantIndependence
Importance Level3.95
Attention to Detail
ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level3.92
Leadership
ImportantLeadership
Importance Level3.92
Initiative
ImportantInitiative
Importance Level3.91
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.2
Integrity
4.0
Independence
4.0
Attention to Detail
3.9
Leadership
3.9
Initiative
3.9
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.7
Self-Control
3.6
Persistence
3.6
Stress Tolerance
3.6
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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