# 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-4191.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Furnace Operator
- Heat Treat Operator
- Heat Treat Technician
- Heat Treater
- Batch Heat Treat Operator
- Burner
- Coating Line Worker
- Heat Treat Furnace Operator
- Scarf and Anneal Operator
- Annealer
- Annealing Furnace Operator
- Annealing Furnace Tender

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| 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. | Supplemental | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| 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. | Supplemental | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.f |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Operate heating or drying equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Determine metal or plastic production methods. | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Position raw materials on processing or production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures. | 4.A.4.b.3.e |
| Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Load items into ovens or furnaces. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Signal others to coordinate work activities. | 4.A.4.b.1.b |
| Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Replace worn equipment components. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Repair production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.93 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.75 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.62 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.62 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.5 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.5 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.5 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.38 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.38 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3.38 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.25 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.25 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.25 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Stamina | ability | 3.25 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.12 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.12 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Response Orientation | ability | 3 |
| Extent Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3 |
| Depth Perception | ability | 3 |
| Auditory Attention | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.79 |
| Time Pressure | 4.6 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.54 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.47 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.44 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.26 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.15 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.14 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.11 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 4.07 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.06 |
| Contact With Others | 4.01 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.01 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 4.01 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.96 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.9 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.78 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.68 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.58 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.55 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.52 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.49 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.42 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.31 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.29 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.25 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.24 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.17 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.02 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.96 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 2.93 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.92 |
| Telephone Conversations | 2.91 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.85 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.79 |
| Consequence of Error | 2.77 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.69 |
| Level of Competition | 2.69 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.34 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.12 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** 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.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 69.85 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 20.06 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 9.81 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.28 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.82 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.07 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.61 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.4 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 3.02 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.35 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.2 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.16 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.07 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.94 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.9 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 1.57 |
| Teaching/Education | specific_interest_area | 1.36 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 1.27 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 1.26 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-4051.00 | role-51-4051-00 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9051.00 | role-51-9051-00 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-4072.00 | role-51-4072-00 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-9012.00 | role-51-9012-00 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-4122.00 | role-51-4122-00 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-4193.00 | role-51-4193-00 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-9041.00 | role-51-9041-00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9192.00 | role-51-9192-00 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9193.00 | role-51-9193-00 | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-4022.00 | role-51-4022-00 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-6091.00 | role-51-6091-00 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Supplemental |
| 51-4023.00 | role-51-4023-00 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Precision Production | precision-production |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 47450
- **Mean Wage:** 49030
- **Pct10Wage:** 35260
- **Pct25Wage:** 39900
- **Pct75Wage:** 56330
- **Pct90Wage:** 64290
- **Employment:** 14590
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 13440 | 47470 | 11.13 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 610 | 47850 | 1.07 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 360 | 37040 | 0.42 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 320 | 37030 | 1.28 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 120 | 45490 | 4.88 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 40 | 47100 |  |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector |  | 85650 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 13440 | 11.13 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 120 | 4.88 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 320 | 1.28 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 610 | 1.07 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 360 | 0.42 |
- **Count:** 7

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.91 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -1.092486 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.8941913 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.171104 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 27
- **Percentile:** 25
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 14 | felten_aioe |
| 22 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 45 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -1.092486 | 14 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.1764705882352941 | 22 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.13789238011981458 | 45 | Moderate | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.91
- **Percentile:** 81
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.1764705882352941
- **Beta:** 0.1764705882352941
- **Gamma:** 0.1764705882352941

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples. | 0.0017460323981446867 | 4.39 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -12.8
- **Growth Percentile:** 4
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 1.2
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 18
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 14.8
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 12.9

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 23
- **Skills:** 34
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 5
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 774af348cd5697d8