All careers › Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Heat treat operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $35,180lowest 10% earn less
- $40,66025th percentile
- $48,750median
- $58,40075th percentile
- $66,350top 10% earn more
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders had a median pay of $48,750 a year[1]. BLS projects employment to decline 9.5% over the coming decade[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -9.5%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,100[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do heat treat operators make?
The median wage for the BLS category Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $48,750 a year, or $23.44 an hour[1]. The average was $50,450 a year, or $24.26 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so the typical heat treat operator earned a little less[4].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,180 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $40,660[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $58,400, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $66,350[3]. Hourly, those points were $16.92, $19.55, $28.08 and $31.90[8]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].
| Point | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][8] | $35,180 | $16.92 |
| Median[1] | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| 90th percentile[3][8] | $66,350 | $31.90 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 14,000 people held these jobs[11].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest state median at $61,990, followed by Oregon at $60,280 and Colorado at $58,300[12]. Louisiana had the lowest listed median at $35,180[12].
Pennsylvania had the most jobs with 1,520, then Texas with 1,450 and Michigan with 1,190[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Canton-Massillon, OH had the highest median at $67,070, followed by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $61,990 and Pittsburgh, PA at $58,890[14]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the most jobs, 700, with a median of $47,550[15].
Show median pay in 37 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[12] | $61,990 | 140 |
| Oregon | $60,280 | 240 |
| Colorado | $58,300 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $56,880 | 70 |
| Virginia | $55,070 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $54,930 | 670 |
| New York | $52,940 | 280 |
| Ohio | $52,880 | 1,040 |
| New Hampshire | $52,250 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $51,680 | 120 |
| Arizona | $50,660 | 160 |
| Michigan | $50,560 | 1,190 |
| California | $50,150 | 770 |
| Iowa | $49,760 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $49,640 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $49,280 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $49,100 | 470 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,800 | 1,520 |
| Nebraska | $48,120 | 50 |
| Missouri | $47,980 | 140 |
| Utah | $47,860 | 90 |
| Kansas | $47,500 | 50 |
| Florida | $47,370 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $47,090 | 340 |
| Alabama | $46,920 | 170 |
| Indiana | $46,860 | 990 |
| South Carolina | $46,750 | 290 |
| North Carolina | $46,660 | 320 |
| Mississippi | $46,630 | 80 |
| Maine | $45,590 | 40 |
| Illinois | $45,340 | 850 |
| Connecticut | $44,350 | 320 |
| Georgia | $44,050 | 250 |
| Texas | $41,690 | 1,450 |
| Minnesota | $41,100 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $37,590 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $35,180 | n/a |
How to become a heat treat operator
The usual path needs a high school diploma and training on the job.
- First: finish high school. A diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, and no related work experience is expected[6]. In an O*NET survey of 19 workers, 70% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 20% said less than that and 10% said a post-secondary certificate[16].
- Next: train on the job. BLS rates the training as moderate-term[6].
- Then: build up skills. The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes trainees who start by watching and helping experienced workers, then take on harder tasks such as adjusting settings and measuring finished parts[17]. Some operators later learn to set up machines[17].
Training time depends on how complex the equipment is. Some workers learn basic operations in a few months, while others may train for up to a year[18]. Certification can show competence and help with advancement[19]. Experienced workers may move into setup or maintenance roles, or into supervisor jobs[20][21].
The training details come from a profile covering a wider group of metal and plastic machine workers, not only heat treat operators[22].
What heat treat operators do
O*NET describes the job as setting up, running or tending heating equipment such as furnaces, flame-hardening machines and induction machines to harden, temper or anneal metal or plastic[23]. Common tasks include:
- Reading work orders and schedules to find furnace temperatures and heat cycles[24].
- Adjusting controls to hold the right temperature and heating time[24].
- Loading stock into furnaces, sometimes by signaling crane operators[24].
- Removing parts after set times and cooling them in air or baths[24].
- Recording when parts leave the furnace[24].
- Choosing bath and quenching types to reach the hardness a part needs[24].
- Teaching new workers how to run the machines[24].
Workers report job titles such as heat treater, furnace operator and heat treat technician[25].
Where they work
The workplace facts come from the wider metal and plastic machine worker profile[22]. These workers often run powerful, high-speed machines that can be dangerous, so they follow safety rules and wear gear such as safety glasses, earplugs and steel-toed boots[26]. The work calls for standing for long periods and repeating tasks[27]. The largest employer group in that profile was fabricated metal product manufacturing, at 25% in 2025[28]. Evening and weekend work is common because many manufacturers run machines for long stretches[29].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to decline 9.5% from 2025 to 2035, a loss of about 1,400 jobs, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][30]. Those counts include self-employed workers[2]. BLS lists productivity change as a factor, since robotics, CNC machinery and other equipment let the same labor produce more[31].
Even so, about 1,100 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[32].
Is it a good fit?
The facts show a job with a low entry barrier. A high school diploma and on-the-job training are the typical route[6]. Median pay is a little below the all-occupations median, and pay varies by state[1][4][12]. Employment is projected to shrink, though openings continue to appear as workers leave[2][5][32]. Anyone weighing the job may want to look at related furnace and machine operator jobs, which BLS lists with their own wages and outlooks[33].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a heat treat operator make an hour?
- The median was $23.44 an hour and the average was $24.26 an hour[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a heat treat operator?
- A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with on-the-job training[6].
- Is heat treating in demand?
- Employment is projected to decline 9.5% against 3.5% growth for all occupations, with about 1,100 openings a year[2][30][5].
- What is the highest paying state for heat treat operators?
- Washington had the highest state median at $61,990[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US was $48,750 per year and $23.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to decline 9.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,400 to 13,000 jobs (a change of -1,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $35,180, 25th percentile $40,660, 75th percentile $58,400, 90th percentile $66,350. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,100 openings for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $50,450 per year and $24.26 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $16.92, 25th percentile $19.55, 75th percentile $28.08, 90th percentile $31.90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 14,000 people were employed as Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs: Pennsylvania 1,520; Texas 1,450; Michigan 1,190; Ohio 1,040; Indiana 990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (areas with at least 100 jobs): Canton-Massillon, OH $67,070; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $61,990; Pittsburgh, PA $58,890; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $58,250; Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $56,380; Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $56,280; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $55,650; Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $55,370. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 700 (median $47,550); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 690 (median $45,100); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 650 (median $50,790); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 (median $49,680); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 420 (median $50,010); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 250 (median $49,470). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-4191.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 70%, Less than a High School Diploma 20%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Metal and Plastic Machine Workers" covers Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-4191.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Batch Heat Treat Operator, Burner, Coating Line Worker, Furnace Operator, Heat Treat Furnace Operator, Heat Treat Operator, Heat Treat Technician, Heat Treater. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Productivity change - share decreases as improvements in robotics, CNC operated machinery, and other industrial equipment increase efficiency, allowing more output to be produced with the same amount of labor. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.