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Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender

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Life As a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Definition 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.

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Responsibilities

  • Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
  • Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
  • Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
  • Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
  • 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.
  • Heat billets, bars, plates, rods, and other stock to specified temperatures preparatory to forging, rolling, or processing, using oil, gas, or electrical furnaces.

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Needed Skills

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

  • Face Hardener
  • Metal Temperer
  • Annealing Oven Operator
  • Fagot Heater
  • Heat Treating Operator

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Employment Estimates

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. There will be an estimated 1,700 positions for Heat Treating Equipment Operator per year.

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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.

Heat Treating Equipment Operator Salary

The average yearly salary of a Heat Treating Equipment Operator ranges between $25,580 and $55,340.

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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 each U.S. state?

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

What Tools do Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Data entry software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software

How to Become a Heat Treating Equipment Operator

Education needed to be a Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, or Tender:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Who Employs Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.

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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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