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Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender

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Life As a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Definition 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.

Life As a Heat Treating Equipment Operator: What Do They Do?

  • Reduce heat when processing is complete to allow parts to cool in furnaces or machinery.
  • Mount fixtures and industrial coils on machines, using hand tools.
  • Signal forklift operators to deposit or extract containers of parts into and from furnaces and quenching rinse tanks.
  • Place completed workpieces on conveyors, using cold rods, tongs, or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to transport them to subsequent stations.
  • 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.
  • Stamp heat-treatment identification marks on parts, using hammers and punches.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Heat Treating Equipment Operator?

Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

  • Dental Amalgam Processor
  • Carburizing Furnace Operator
  • Heat Treater Apprentice
  • Slab Depiler Operator
  • Sinter Feeder

Is There Going to be Demand for Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 19,800 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,700 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Heat Treating Equipment Operator are Utah, Arizona, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Virginia, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Heat Treating Equipment Operator Make?

Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders make between $25,580 and $55,340 a year.

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Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Washington, Oregon, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.

How much do Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $39,660
Arizona $39,250
Arkansas $38,750
California $42,390
Colorado $40,670
Connecticut $40,440
Florida $33,630
Georgia $35,840
Illinois $37,420
Indiana $39,140
Iowa $38,990
Kansas $39,350
Kentucky $37,750
Louisiana $42,500
Massachusetts $44,190
Michigan $36,430
Minnesota $37,640
Mississippi $37,780
Missouri $36,560
Nebraska $38,480
New Hampshire $40,110
New Jersey $39,190
New York $38,740
North Carolina $42,920
Ohio $37,930
Oklahoma $41,800
Oregon $45,150
Pennsylvania $41,480
Rhode Island $41,780
South Carolina $38,090
South Dakota $38,520
Tennessee $34,280
Texas $38,470
Utah $35,710
Vermont $42,680
Virginia $39,360
Washington $51,430
West Virginia $42,150
Wisconsin $38,200

What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Data entry software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Becoming a Heat Treating Equipment Operator

What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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

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Below are examples of industries where Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:

Career changers with experience as a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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