• Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • Manufacturing
  • Annual Median Wage
    $ 47,626
    $35,770 range bar $59,571
    Annual NC Wage Range
    Growth Rate
    Image of growth rate score 1
    Very Slow Growing
  • Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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, or heat-treat metal or plastic objects.

What do they typically do

  • 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 decide processing order, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated
  • 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
  • Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them
  • Teach new workers how to operate machines
  • Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times using thermal instruments and charts, furnace dials and gauges, and color of stock in furnaces
  • Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature
  • Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to show that objects have reached specified temperatures for specified times

Number of Jobs

Average Annual
Job Growth -0.6%
Job Openings 8

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Education & Training

  • Education

    These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
    Associated Programs or Majors
    License
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Private Training Programs
78

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