Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Heat Treating Equipment Operators
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.
Also called: Annealer, Annealing Furnace Operator, Annealing Furnace Tender, Annealing Oven Operator, Annealing Torch Operator, Bagger
Median pay
$48,750
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,180 – $66,350
People employed
14,000
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 2.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 4.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 5.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 6.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 7.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 8.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (37 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in every state →
What heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
- 01Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
- 02Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated.
- 03Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
- 04Determine 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.
- 05Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
- 06Adjust 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.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders88% · +6%
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders88% · −1%
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders87% · −5%
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders87% · −6%
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers86% · −5%
Change into heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders92% · $41,330
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders88% · $48,040
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders86% · $58,040
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders86% · $38,180
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders85% · $43,530
Majors that lead here
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.