Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
Production Occupations · 14K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$48,750
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$50,450
Typical range
$35,180–$66,350
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $48,750 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $35,180 and $66,350 a year. There are roughly 14K people employed as heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
- Hourly
- $23.44
- Daily
- $188
- Weekly
- $938
- Bi-weekly
- $1,875
- Monthly
- $4,063
- Annual
- $48,750
$48,750 a year is around the 50th percentile for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics. The median is $48,750.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$61,990
- 2Oregon$60,280
- 3Colorado$58,300
- 4West Virginia$56,880
- 5Virginia$55,070
- 6Tennessee$54,930
- 7New York$52,940
- 8Ohio$52,880
- 9New Hampshire$52,250
- 10Oklahoma$51,680
- 11Arizona$50,660
- 12Michigan$50,560
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Canton-Massillon, OH$67,070
- 2Oklahoma City, OK$65,640
- 3Albany, OR$64,210
- 4Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$63,960
- 5Columbus, OH$62,530
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$61,990
- 7Worcester, MA$61,050
- 8Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$60,190
- 9Springfield, MA$60,110
- 10San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$59,530
- 11Peoria, IL$59,160
- 12Pittsburgh, PA$58,890
Related job titles
Employers advertise Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles under these titles.
- Annealing Furnace Operator
- Annealing Furnace Tender
- Annealing Oven Operator
- Annealing Torch Operator
- Batch Heat Treat Operator
- Billet Heater
- Billet Heater Operator
- Box Annealer
- Burner Machine Operator
- Carburizing Furnace Operator
- Case Hardener
- Coating Line Worker
- Crack Off Person
- Cyanide Case Hardener
- Cyanide Furnace Operator
- Cyanide Pot Hardener
Related occupations
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$54,430
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,040
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,610
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,960
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$43,530
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,760
What a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic does
- 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.
- Instruct new workers in machine operation.
- 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.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
- The median annual wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $48,750 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,180 at the 10th percentile to $66,350 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $50,450, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $61,990.
- Is Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 14K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do?
- 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.; Instruct new workers in machine operation.; Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated..