Production
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Batch Heat Treat Operator, Burner, Coating Line Worker, Furnace Operator
US median pay
$48,750
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-9.5%
declining
Openings a year (US)
1,100
14,400 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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 they do day to day
- 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.
- Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
- Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.
- Instruct new workers in machine operation.
- Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated.
- Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.8/5
- Operation and Control3.8/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.0/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Troubleshooting2.8/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing3.9/5
- Mathematics3.2/5
- Education and Training2.9/5
- Administration and Management2.8/5
- Chemistry2.7/5
- Mechanical2.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma70%
- Less than high school20%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.