Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in a fairly small occupation, with national employment of about 15,000. The role centers on working with metal and plastic materials, requiring a mix of physical ability, technical awareness, and careful attention to detail. Nationally, the median annual salary is $47,450, with some states and metro areas offering higher typical pay. While overall projected employment growth is -12.8%, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. This career may appeal to people who prefer hands-on work that uses mechanical and technical skills rather than a long academic path, since the typical education is a high school diploma or equivalent. The occupation’s top skills span physical strength and stamina, fine motor ability, mechanical and science understanding, mathematics, critical and analytical thinking, and comfort with computers and information technology, offering a skill profile that blends physical and cognitive demands.
Nationally, heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn a median annual salary of $47,450. Pay levels vary by location, with several states and metros offering higher typical wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $61,990 and Colorado $58,300, while New York is $52,940, California $50,150, and Massachusetts $49,280. At the metro level, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA reports a median salary of $61,990, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH show $58,300 and $55,650, respectively. These figures indicate that workers willing to consider specific high-opportunity states or metro areas may find stronger earning potential. Because salaries differ noticeably across regions, researching pay for particular locations can be an important part of planning a career move or advancement strategy in this field.
This occupation has national employment of 15,000, with projected employment growth of -12.8%. Despite this decline, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings. For someone exploring this career, the combination of a shrinking overall employment base and ongoing yearly openings suggests that many opportunities may come from turnover, retirements, or workers changing occupations rather than expansion. The uniform projected growth rate of -12.8% appears across the listed top states and metro areas, indicating that the decline is not limited to just one region. Because the number of jobs is relatively modest compared with some larger occupations, job seekers may need to be flexible about location and employer. At the same time, the consistent presence of annual openings means that individuals with the right skills and preparation can still find roles, especially if they are open to relocating to areas with stronger opportunity scores or higher employment levels.
Location matters for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, both for pay and concentration of jobs. Among the top states by opportunity score, California has the largest employment at 770, followed by New York with 280, Washington 140, Massachusetts 250, and Colorado 100. Median salaries differ notably: Washington leads at $61,990, with Colorado at $58,300, New York at $52,940, California at $50,150, and Massachusetts at $49,280. Opportunity scores in these states range from about 56 to 67, with California and Massachusetts at the top. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stands out with an opportunity score of 77.27, employment of 420, and a median salary of $50,010. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA combines a median salary of $61,990 with an opportunity score of 61.92. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH show higher median pay with smaller employment counts. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA offers 420 jobs with a median salary of $49,680.
The typical education for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who do not plan on extensive formal postsecondary education but are ready to build practical, technical, and cognitive skills. Success in this role draws on physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities, reflecting the hands-on nature of the work. Mechanical, science, and mathematics skills are also important, pointing to the value of comfort with technical concepts and quantitative thinking. The skill profile extends beyond physical and technical abilities. Workers benefit from being detail oriented and using critical and analytical thinking to support accuracy and problem-solving. Leadership skills may be relevant when coordinating tasks or supporting others. Comfort with computers and information technology, along with solid writing and reading skills, supports documentation, communication, and interaction with modern equipment interfaces. Together, these skills offer a pathway for individuals with a high school education to develop a robust, applied skill set in this occupation.
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