Jobs Similar to Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Heat Treating Equipment Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $48,750 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
83% similar · $46,460 (−5%) · High school
- 2Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
83% similar · $54,430 (+12%) · High school · Same group
- 3Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $44,350 (−9%) · High school · Same group
- 4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
82% similar · $96,710 (+98%) · High school
- 5Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
82% similar · $46,350 (−5%) · High school
- 6Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
82% similar · $38,760 (−20%) · High school
- 7Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
82% similar · $41,330 (−15%) · High school
- 8Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
82% similar · $38,180 (−22%) · High school
- 9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
81% similar · $50,690 (+4%) · High school
- 10Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $47,180 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 11Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $50,140 (+3%) · High school · Same group
- 12Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $46,550 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 13Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $52,800 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 14Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
80% similar · $58,040 (+19%) · High school
- 15Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $49,030 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 16Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $45,760 (−6%) · High school
- 17Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $46,330 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 18Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $48,990 (0%) · High school
- 19Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $46,570 (−4%) · High school
- 20Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $39,530 (−19%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers82% similar · $96,710 (+98%)
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders80% similar · $58,040 (+19%)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders83% similar · $54,430 (+12%)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic80% similar · $52,800 (+8%)
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators81% similar · $50,690 (+4%)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic80% similar · $50,140 (+3%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders (92)
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (88)
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (86)
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (86)
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders (85)
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (85)
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (84)
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (83)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (82)
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (82)
Questions about jobs like heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
What jobs are most similar to heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (83% similar), Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (83% similar), Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (82% similar), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (82% similar) and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (82% similar).
Which jobs like heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +98%; usually a high school diploma), Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders ($58,040, +19%; usually a high school diploma) and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders ($54,430, +12%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic ($48,750). Without more preparation than heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.