Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Workers in this field run specialized heating equipment like furnaces, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum systems to temper, harden, or anneal materials. Day-to-day tasks center on controlling machines and processes, handling and moving physical objects, and inspecting equipment or materials. Operators must carefully monitor operations, control machinery, and perform quality control analysis to ensure products meet specifications. They also need to make decisions, solve problems, and document their work while communicating with supervisors and team members.

This role suits individuals with strong realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work. Success in this job requires knowledge of production processes, mathematics, mechanics, and basic chemistry or physics. Operators must display work styles such as dependability, cautiousness, and high attention to detail to safely manage high-temperature equipment. They also need active listening and critical thinking skills to troubleshoot machinery issues and maintain equipment performance.

Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. Because this occupation is classified under O*NET Job Zone 2, most workers need some basic preparation, which usually includes a combination of a high school education and some on-the-job training or previous experience.

While many operators learn their skills directly on the job, students can prepare by pursuing relevant educational programs. Precision metal working is a related college major that teaches foundational skills useful for this profession. No specific certifications, licenses, or professional associations are reported as mandatory requirements to enter this field.

The median annual pay for these operators is $48,750. The lowest 10% of earners make less than $35,180, while the highest 10% earn more than $66,350.

Employment in this field is projected to decline by -9.5% from 2025 to 2035. Despite this decrease in total jobs, the industry is still expected to have 1,100 openings each year to replace workers who leave the occupation.