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What is a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender?

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Job 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.

What Do Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do On a Daily Basis?

Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples.
Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces.
Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
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.
Signal forklift operators to deposit or extract containers of parts into and from furnaces and quenching rinse tanks.

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Skills Needed to be a Heat Treating Equipment Operator

Below is a list of the skills most Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are important on the job.

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.

Other Heat Treating Equipment Operator Job Titles

Furnace Feeder
Carburizing Furnace Operator
Burner Machine Operator
Machine Operator
Manufacturing Operator

Job Outlook for Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders

In the United States, there were 19,800 jobs for Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016. 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.

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.

What is the Average Salary of a Heat Treating Equipment Operator

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

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

Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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

How do I Become a Heat Treating Equipment Operator?

Individuals working as a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

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

Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

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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