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Potters, Manufacturing in Pennsylvania

Considering working as a Potters, Manufacturing in Pennsylvania? Here’s what you need to know. Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

What do Potters, Manufacturing Make in Pennsylvania?

For potters, manufacturing working in Pennsylvania, wages run about $45,810 per year (or about $22.02/hour).Annual wages span from $36,950 at the 10th percentile to $60,990 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$36,950	$17.76
25th percentile	$40,760	$19.60
Median (50th)	$45,810	$22.02
75th percentile	$49,570	$23.83
90th percentile	$60,990	$29.32

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Pennsylvania nationwide is 1.28, meaning that potters, manufacturing are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, potters, manufacturing earn a median of $58,919 per year ($28.33/hour), lower than the Pennsylvania median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 773,789 potters, manufacturing across the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, around 1,740 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 620 potters, manufacturing.

Top Pennsylvania Metros for Potters, Manufacturing

These are the Pennsylvania metros with the most potters, manufacturing in Pennsylvania.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	660	$47,000
Pittsburgh, PA	330	$43,470
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	140	$46,490
Lancaster, PA	130	$45,250
Reading, PA	90	$45,610
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA	70	$42,620
Chambersburg, PA	70	$47,930
York-Hanover, PA	70	$49,600
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	50	$45,380
Altoona, PA	40	$39,660
Erie, PA	30	$42,290

Top States for Potters, Manufacturing Employment

View the states that employ the most potters, manufacturing work.

State	Number Employed
California	4,090
Michigan	1,980
Texas	1,950
Indiana	1,740
Pennsylvania	1,740
Ohio	1,730
Florida	1,680
New York	1,350
Illinois	1,160
Massachusetts	1,150
Alabama	1,140
Washington	1,100
Tennessee	930
Missouri	810
New Jersey	800
Kansas	800
Wisconsin	790
Minnesota	730
North Carolina	710
Georgia	680

Highest-Paying States for Potters, Manufacturing

Where potters, manufacturing earn the most: potters, manufacturing.

State	Annual Median Salary
Hawaii	$74,780
Maryland	$51,470
New Hampshire	$50,690
New York	$50,470
Connecticut	$50,350
Massachusetts	$49,530
Montana	$49,350
Oregon	$49,290
New Jersey	$49,120
California	$48,390

Skills

The most important potters, manufacturing skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for potters, manufacturing, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
• Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
• Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
• Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
• Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
• Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
• Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
• Attach handles to pottery pieces.
• Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
• Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.
• Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
• Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.

Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects
• Thinking Creatively
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Scheduling Work and Activities
• Selling or Influencing Others
• Getting Information

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to potters, manufacturing include:

• Craft Artists
• Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Pourers and Casters, Metal

Also Known As

Clay Mixer, Glazer, Jigger Artisan, Jigger Machine Operator, Jiggerman, Kiln Worker, Manufacturing Potter, Pot Maker, Potter, Pottery Machine Operator, Pottery Manufacturer, Pottery and Porcelain Model Maker, Production Potter, Pugmill Operator, Thrower.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9195.05