Potters, Manufacturing: Job Description
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
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What Tasks Do Potters, Manufacturing Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of potters, manufacturing cover:
- 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.
What Potters, Manufacturing Need to Know
Effective potters, manufacturing draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Potters, Manufacturing Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Clay Mixer
- Glazer
- Jigger Artisan
- Jigger Machine Operator
- Jiggerman
- Kiln Worker
- Manufacturing Potter
- Pot Maker
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 773,789 potters, manufacturing working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.6% over the projection horizon.
Potters, Manufacturing Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $58,919 |
| Hourly median | $28.33 |
| 10th percentile | $32,892 |
| 25th percentile | $45,906 |
| 75th percentile | $71,932 |
| 90th percentile | $84,945 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Potters, Manufacturing Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
| Georgia | $48,320 |
| Louisiana | $48,280 |
| Washington | $48,100 |
| Vermont | $47,700 |
| Nebraska | $47,640 |
| Rhode Island | $47,630 |
| Delaware | $47,210 |
| Arizona | $47,170 |
| Maine | $47,100 |
| Kansas | $47,040 |
| Indiana | $46,990 |
| Nevada | $46,350 |
| Wisconsin | $45,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,810 |
| Illinois | $45,720 |
| Colorado | $45,480 |
| North Dakota | $45,230 |
| Minnesota | $45,090 |
| Iowa | $44,760 |
| Ohio | $44,660 |
| Idaho | $43,960 |
| Florida | $43,730 |
| South Carolina | $42,730 |
| Michigan | $42,520 |
| Missouri | $42,090 |
| Arkansas | $41,920 |
| Virginia | $41,280 |
| Oklahoma | $41,010 |
| Kentucky | $40,280 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 |
| Utah | $39,260 |
| North Carolina | $39,090 |
| Texas | $38,960 |
| West Virginia | $36,970 |
| Alabama | $36,240 |
| Mississippi | $30,070 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for potters, manufacturing differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $49,134 | 5.4% | 1.41 |
| Far Western US | $48,466 | 17.7% | 1.08 |
| Middle Atlantic | $48,200 | 12.1% | 0.94 |
| Plains States | $45,055 | 9.9% | 1.63 |
| Great Lakes | $44,930 | 21.5% | 1.69 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,963 | 4.2% | 1.26 |
| Southeast | $40,825 | 21.6% | 1.13 |
| Southwest | $40,351 | 7.6% | 0.63 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $62,530 | 200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $61,000 | 180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $58,630 | 420 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $58,150 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $57,360 | 60 |
| Syracuse, NY | NY | $54,560 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $54,250 | 450 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $52,740 | 80 |
Industry Breakdown
Most potters, manufacturing are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28,900 | $45,490 |
| Construction | 3,060 | $48,720 |
| Retail Trade | 840 | $49,730 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 840 | $36,100 |
| Wholesale Trade | 520 | $43,310 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 140 | $48,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 40 | $41,700 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Potters, Manufacturing Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for potters, manufacturing is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Potters, Manufacturing
Most potters, manufacturing positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Craft Artists (Primary-Short)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons (Supplemental)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (Supplemental)
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Pourers and Casters, Metal (Supplemental)
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers (Primary-Long)
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9195.05 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic).
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