Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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.
About the profession
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.
How to Get Started
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Occupation on screen: Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (O*NET 51-9161.00). The Department of Labor publishes one film per occupation family, and this is the film it lists for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (51-4191.00), which is how Heat Treater is classified. Closed captions in English and Spanish. CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration)
Personality Fit
Based on the Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Enterprising
Leading, persuading, business
Social
Helping, teaching, working with people
Conventional
Organizing, detail-oriented, structured
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (12-15 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Trainee Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic → Technician Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic → Senior Technician Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic → Lead Technician Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
4
Levels
61K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $34,850 - $41,490/year With equity/bonuses: $38,335 - $49,788 Top markets (SF/NYC): $40,078 - $49,788 Execute core tasks using Operations…
Skills used in this career
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Day in Life
Junior vs Senior, daily schedule breakdown
9am, 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…
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $24,395 - $37,341 Year 2-3: Junior level $41,490 - $45,724 Year 4-6: Mid level $45,724 - $49,574 Year 7-10: Senior level $49,574 - $57,509 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions, answer honestly
You find the craft of a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with Operations…
💰 Pay for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
BLS OEWS, May 2023The federal survey does not count this job title on its own — it is counted under Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (51-4191).
Half of U.S. workers in this occupation earn more than this, half earn less.
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types