Occupation · SOC 51-9195.05
Potters, Manufacturing
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
10 mapped
Core skills
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessQuality Control AnalysisReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingWritingTime ManagementService OrientationTroubleshootingSystems AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesSystems EvaluationPersuasionOperations AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesActive LearningInstructingNegotiationLearning StrategiesTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionScienceEquipment MaintenanceRepairingProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Fine ArtsProduction and ProcessingDesignCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistryAdministration and ManagementSales and MarketingEngineering and TechnologyMathematicsMechanicalPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageAdministrativeCommunications and MediaEconomics and AccountingEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsTransportationPsychologyPhysicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesTelecommunicationsHistory and ArcheologyLaw and GovernmentPhilosophy and TheologyGeographySociology and AnthropologyBuilding and ConstructionMedicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageFood ProductionBiology
Technology & tools
Inventory control softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlook
Representative tasks
Handling and Moving ObjectsThinking CreativelyControlling Machines and ProcessesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentScheduling Work and ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersGetting InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentProcessing InformationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesWorking with ComputersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping and Building TeamsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersAssisting and Caring for Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Potter's wheel and clay centering technique — practice and apply under direct supervisor guidance in a vocational or production studio setting.Clay balls — position accurately at the center of a potter's wheel and engage the motor or foot treadle to initiate rotation under instructor direction.Wheel speed controls — adjust at basic intervals following supervisor instruction as clay forms begin to take shape on the production floor.Hand and finger pressure — apply to raise and open clay walls into simple cylindrical forms under close mentorship in a training pottery studio.Finished greenware pieces — remove carefully from the wheel and transfer to drying racks without deformation, following established studio procedures.Electric and gas kilns — assist in loading and operating under direct technician supervision in a manufacturing pottery facility.Pre-mixed glazes — apply to bisque-ware using basic brushing or dipping techniques according to written instructions in a production environment.Defects and irregularities in raw clay forms — recognize and flag for correction during routine production runs under supervisor oversight.Safety protocols for kiln operation and chemical glaze handling — follow consistently in a manufacturing studio as directed by senior staff.Handles and attachments — affix to pottery pieces using slip and scoring methods under direct guidance in a structured production workshop.
developing
Wheel speed and clay feel — monitor and adjust independently throughout the throwing process to maintain consistent wall thickness across standard production runs.Clay centering and form raising — perform routinely on a potter's wheel to produce functional wares such as vases, pitchers, and bowls with minimal supervision.Gas and electric kiln cycles — operate and monitor independently, including temperature ramp and cool-down sequences, in a mid-volume pottery manufacturing facility.Glaze mixtures — apply using spray guns and hand tools to achieve consistent coverage and decorative effects across batches of production ware.Drying and shrinkage variables — manage by scheduling piece movement from wheels to racks and monitoring environmental conditions in a production studio.Handle attachment technique — execute consistently across multiple piece types, ensuring proper alignment and bond strength suitable for functional pottery.Inventory management software — use to track raw materials, glazes, and finished pieces within a manufacturing studio's production workflow.Production quality standards — assess against established criteria by performing routine visual and tactile inspection of thrown and glazed pieces.Glaze chemistry fundamentals — apply basic understanding to troubleshoot common firing defects such as crawling or pinholing in a production kiln context.Retail and studio networks — begin cultivating introductory relationships to support sale or exhibition of production pottery at local or regional venues.
proficient
Full throwing sequence — execute autonomously across a broad range of vessel forms, adapting hand pressure, speed, and technique to clay body variations in a high-volume manufacturing environment.Kiln atmosphere and temperature profiles — control and troubleshoot independently for both gas and electric kilns to achieve targeted glaze and clay body results across production batches.Complex glaze formulations — mix, test, and apply using spray guns and specialized tools to meet aesthetic and functional specifications across diverse product lines.Non-routine clay defects and structural failures — diagnose root causes and implement corrective measures during active production runs without supervisory input.Wheel speed and wall-thinning dynamics — manage with precision and consistency across extended production sessions, applying nuanced tactile judgment to optimize form quality.Piece-to-piece consistency — achieve across large production runs by developing and maintaining personal throwing rhythms and standardized measurement references.Sales and exhibition preparation — independently curate, document, and present work portfolios while managing ongoing relationships with retail galleries, art networks, and wholesale buyers.Spreadsheet and inventory tools — use proficiently to analyze material usage, production yields, and cost-per-unit metrics across a pottery manufacturing operation.Handle design and attachment — engineer and execute across varied vessel scales and styles, ensuring ergonomic function and aesthetic coherence in finished production pieces.Glaze and firing chemistry — apply deductive reasoning to interpret test tile results and refine firing schedules for predictable, repeatable surface outcomes in a manufacturing setting.
advanced
Production workflow and throwing standards — establish and refine studio-wide protocols that optimize throughput, quality, and material efficiency across a pottery manufacturing operation.Kiln operation strategy — design firing schedules, maintenance plans, and safety systems for multi-kiln facilities, ensuring compliance and performance at organizational scale.Glaze research and development — lead formulation programs that introduce new surface treatments aligned with market trends and production capabilities across product lines.Junior and apprentice potters — mentor and evaluate in wheel technique, glazing, and kiln operation, calibrating instruction to individual skill progression within a structured training environment.Brand identity and market positioning — direct the development of pottery lines and exhibition strategies that align aesthetic vision with business objectives for retail and wholesale channels.Cross-functional production planning — integrate throwing schedules, kiln capacity, glaze inventory, and staffing using management software to meet volume and delivery targets.Innovation in form and process — champion experimental throwing and surface techniques that advance the studio's competitive differentiation while maintaining manufacturability.Industry and professional networks — cultivate and sustain strategic relationships with galleries, distributors, art institutions, and material suppliers to expand organizational reach and revenue.Quality management systems — design and implement inspection frameworks, defect tracking, and continuous improvement cycles across all stages of the pottery production process.Organizational culture and craft standards — model and instill values of attention to detail, perseverance, and creative achievement that define professional excellence in a manufacturing pottery studio.
Also known as
15 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Clay MixerGlazerJigger ArtisanJigger Machine OperatorJiggermanKiln WorkerManufacturing PotterPot MakerPotterPottery and Porcelain Model MakerPottery Machine OperatorPottery ManufacturerProduction PotterPugmill OperatorThrower