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.

Also called: Batch Heat Treat Operator, Burner, Coating Line Worker, Furnace Operator, Heat Treat Furnace Operator, Heat Treat Operator, Heat Treat Technician, Heat Treater, Scarf and Anneal Operator, Annealer, Annealing Furnace Operator, Annealing Furnace Tender, Annealing Oven Operator, Annealing Torch Operator, Bagger, Base-Draw Operator, Batch Operator, Billet Heater, Billet Heater Operator, Box Annealer, Burner Machine Operator, Carbonizer, Carburizing Furnace Operator, Case Hardener, Charger, Charger Operator, Crack Off Person, Cyanide Case Hardener, Cyanide Furnace Operator, Cyanide Pot Hardener, Cyanide Pot Tender, Dental Amalgam Processor, Die Hardener, Draw Fire Operator, Face Hardener, Fagot Heater, Flame Annealing Machine Setter, Flame Hardener, Flame Hardening Machine Operator, Flame Hardening Machine Setter, Forge Heater, Furnace Feeder, Hardener, Heat Regulator, Heat Treating Bluer, Heat Treating Furnace Tender, Heat Treating Operator, Hot Mill Worker, Induction Heat Treater, Induction Machine Operator, Induction Machine Setter, Melting Operator, Metal and Plastic Heater, Metal and Plastic Heating Equipment Setter, Metal Annealer, Metal Hardener, Metal Temperer, Metal Treater, Muffle Operator, Normalizer, Parts Processor, Peelman, Pit Furnace Operator, Plate Furnace Operator, Pre Batch Operator, Preparatory Technician, Production Hardener, Pulpit Operator, Pusher, Quenching Machine Operator, Reach Operator, Reheater, Rivet Heater, Sheet Heater, Sinter Feeder, Slab Depiler Operator, Soaking Pit Operator, Spike Machine Heater, Steel Heater, Stove Tender, Temperer, Tempering Oven Operator, Thermoforming Operator, Tool Hardener, Torch Operator, Treatment Technician (Treatment Tech), Tube Heater, Wire Annealer, Wire Temperer

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Critical Thinking
Equipment Maintenance
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Mathematics

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (69.85% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

40,660–58,400 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4191.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (69.85% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic