Occupation · SOC 51-4191
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.
Median wage
$47,450
$35,260–$64,290
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
14,590
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
373 mapped
Core skills
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringQuality Control AnalysisActive ListeningSpeakingEquipment MaintenanceCritical Thinking
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingMathematics
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.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.Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.Instruct new workers in machine operation.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.Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals.Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces.Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces.Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples.Signal forklift operators to deposit or extract containers of parts into and from furnaces and quenching rinse tanks.Mount workpieces in fixtures, on arbors, or between centers of machines.Reduce heat when processing is complete to allow parts to cool in furnaces or machinery.Mount fixtures and industrial coils on machines, using hand tools.Heat billets, bars, plates, rods, and other stock to specified temperatures preparatory to forging, rolling, or processing, using oil, gas, or electrical furnaces.Position stock in furnaces, using tongs, chain hoists, or pry bars.Repair, replace, and maintain furnace equipment as needed, using hand tools.Clean oxides and scales from parts or fittings, using steam sprays or chemical and water baths.Stamp heat-treatment identification marks on parts, using hammers and punches.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Production schedules and work orders — read and interpret under direct supervision to identify processing sequences and furnace temperature requirements for assigned heat-treating jobs.Furnace temperature logs and part removal records — complete accurately under guidance to document that objects have reached specified temperatures for specified durations.Furnace controls and thermal instruments — observe and adjust with direct oversight to maintain target temperatures during a standard heat cycle.Conveyors and furnace doors — operate under supervision to load stock into heat-treating equipment following established loading procedures.Furnaces, baths, and flame-hardening machines — tend under direction using step-by-step instructions to support annealing and hardening operations.Treated parts removed from furnaces — cool in water, oil, brine, or air following specified quenching protocols under close supervisor guidance.Gas burners and flow controls — light and adjust with assistance, monitoring flame temperature and gas and water flow according to posted operating procedures.Dials, gauges, and color indicators on furnaces — recognize normal versus abnormal readings under supervision to flag potential equipment issues promptly.Basic safety equipment and personal protective gear — select and wear correctly at all times on the production floor in compliance with plant safety rules.Spreadsheet and word processing software — enter production data and time records under guidance to support shop-floor documentation requirements.
developing
Work orders and production schedules — review independently to determine heat cycle requirements, furnace settings, and processing sequences for routine metal and plastic parts.Part removal times and furnace exposure records — document consistently and accurately in ERP or spreadsheet software to maintain traceability across production runs.Thermal instruments, charts, and furnace dials — monitor and adjust routinely without close oversight to hold temperatures within tolerance throughout standard heat-treating cycles.Conveyors, crane signals, and soaking pit operations — coordinate with minimal supervision to load and position ingots and stock efficiently for scheduled production batches.Furnaces, electronic induction machines, and baths — set up and operate with reduced oversight across multiple equipment types to complete annealing, hardening, and tempering tasks.Quenched and air-dried parts — inspect visually and dimensionally after cooling to verify that surface finish and hardness meet quality specifications for the job.Gas burner controls and water flow valves — adjust independently to achieve and maintain flame temperatures specified for each heat-treating application.Equipment gauges and monitoring instruments — track during production runs to detect deviations early and make real-time corrective adjustments before quality defects occur.Routine furnace maintenance tasks — perform on schedule, including cleaning, calibration checks, and minor adjustments, to sustain equipment reliability on the production floor.New operators — assist with machine familiarization and demonstrate correct loading, monitoring, and quenching steps under the direction of a lead or supervisor.
proficient
Complex production schedules involving multiple alloys and heat cycles — analyze and sequence autonomously to optimize furnace utilization and meet delivery commitments.Comprehensive heat-treating process records — maintain and audit across full production runs using ERP and spreadsheet systems to ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards.Non-routine temperature and timing deviations — diagnose using thermal data, color observation, and instrument readings, then implement corrective actions independently to protect part integrity.Full range of heat-treating equipment including induction machines and soaking pits — set up, operate, and transition between without supervision to handle varied production demands.Quality control analysis on treated parts — conduct systematically, interpreting hardness tests, visual inspections, and process data to accept, reject, or rework output per specifications.Quenching media selection and cooling parameters — determine based on material type, part geometry, and metallurgical requirements to achieve specified mechanical properties.Gas, water flow, and burner adjustments — execute with precision across diverse furnace configurations to maintain flame and atmosphere conditions for critical heat-treating applications.Equipment maintenance issues — troubleshoot and resolve, coordinating with maintenance personnel as needed, to minimize unplanned downtime in a high-volume production environment.Process improvement opportunities — identify by analyzing cycle time data, scrap rates, and energy usage, and recommend adjustments to settings or sequences to increase efficiency.New heat-treating procedures and non-standard materials — evaluate and adapt to by applying metallurgical knowledge and systematic problem-solving in a manufacturing shop context.
advanced
Heat-treating process standards and operating procedures — develop and revise for the facility to ensure consistency, safety, and alignment with customer and regulatory requirements.Production floor operators and new hires — train, mentor, and evaluate systematically on equipment setup, monitoring techniques, and quality protocols to build departmental capability.Furnace scheduling and workflow across multiple production lines — plan and optimize at the departmental level to balance throughput, equipment capacity, and on-time delivery goals.Quality control systems for heat-treating operations — design and oversee, establishing inspection criteria, documentation requirements, and corrective action processes organization-wide.Capital equipment selection and furnace upgrade decisions — inform by evaluating technology options, capacity needs, and cost-benefit data to guide management investment choices.Cross-functional teams including engineering, quality, and maintenance — lead during root cause investigations of heat-treating failures to implement lasting corrective and preventive actions.ERP and data systems for production tracking — champion adoption and configuration improvements within the department to enhance traceability, reporting accuracy, and operational visibility.Safety and environmental compliance programs for heat-treating operations — own and enforce, ensuring all gas, chemical, and thermal hazard controls meet regulatory and company standards.Continuous improvement initiatives targeting yield, energy consumption, and cycle time — lead using data-driven methods to deliver measurable cost and quality gains across the production facility.Organizational knowledge of metallurgical best practices and heat-treating technology trends — translate into updated training curricula, process guidelines, and strategic recommendations for plant leadership.
Also known as
119 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aircraft Metals Technology (Air Force 2A7X1)PusherInduction Machine OperatorFurnace OperatorCarburizing Furnace OperatorChargerQuenching Machine OperatorHeat Treating Furnace TenderAnnealing Torch OperatorMetal TreaterSheet HeaterWire TempererBatch Heat Treat OperatorFlame-Hardening-Machine SetterBillet HeaterSinter FeederMaterial Maintenance Specialty (Coast Guard MAT)Flame-Hardening-Machine OperatorHeat Treating OperatorInduction-Machine OperatorSoaking Pit OperatorWire AnnealerThermoforming OperatorFlame Annealing Machine SetterInduction-Machine SetterBase-Draw OperatorSpike-Machine HeaterBatch OperatorAutomotive Maintenance Warrant Officer (Army 915A)Aircraft Welder (Marine Corps 6043)Melting OperatorCyanide Case HardenerMetal and Plastic Heating Equipment SetterForge HeaterDamage Controlman (Coast Guard DC)Furnace FeederAircraft Metals Technology Journeyman (Air Force 2A751)Heat-Treating BluerDie HardenerMetal and Plastic Heater