Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production
Follows production schedules to set furnace temperatures and heat cycles, then loads stock by starting conveyors, opening furnace doors, or signaling crane operators at soaking pits. Controls are adjusted using thermal instruments, gauges, and the color of the stock; gas burners, water flow, and flame temperature get tuned as the cycle runs. After the set time, parts come out and cool in air or in water, oil, brine, or other baths, and removal times are written down. New workers are often shown how to run the machines. Suits people who like tending hot process equipment, watching temperatures and times, and keeping a steady production pace.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$48'750
Median Wage Market Position
$48'750
What you might do
- Run furnaces that harden or anneal parts
- Set heat cycles from schedules and work orders
- Adjust furnace temperatures using gauges and charts
- Load parts into furnaces or soaking pits
- Cool treated parts in water or oil baths
- Record when parts come out of the furnace
Skills that matter
- Watching furnace heat and cycle times
- Setting gas flow and flame temperature
- Logging when parts leave the furnace
- Cooling parts in water or oil baths
- Teaching new workers furnace operation
- Signaling crane operators at soaking pits
AI & the future of this role
Operating furnaces and monitoring metal properties still depend on hands-on setup and process judgment that machines struggle to fully own. Software may guide temperature profiles and scheduling, though physical tending and quality checks tend to remain central.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details