Description

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.

Interests

Realistic
Conventional

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Work Values

Support
Relationships
Independence

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Work Styles

Dependability
Integrity
Independence
Attention to Detail
Initiative

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Tasks

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.
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.
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.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects
Controlling Machines and Processes
Performing General Physical Activities
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Detailed Work Activities

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software
Electronic mail software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Office suite software
Word processing software

Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness
Multilimb Coordination
Reaction Time
Manual Dexterity
Near Vision

Skills

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis

Knowledge

Production and Processing
Mathematics

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

These are the certification(s) applicable to Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

This information is currently unavailable.

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income Percentile	Annual Income
Low (10%)	$38,255
Median (50%)	$44,558
High (90%)	$58,136

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).

Experience	Income
Entry Level	$44,788
Mid Level	$52,530
Senior Level	$59,167
Expert Level	N/A

Employability

There are currently 15,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 13,800 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -10%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of -10%

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The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.