Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
SOC Code: 51-4191
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic carries a 36% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $47,450 and -12.8% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 14,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 36% AI exposure, Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic sits 1 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 56% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic has ai exposure of 36%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4191) carries an AI exposure score of 36%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 14,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -12.8% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $47,450, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
- 2. 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.
- 3. Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
- 4. 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.
- 5. Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
- 6. 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.
- 7. Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces.
- 8. Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
- 9. 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.
- 10. Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces.
Key Skills Required
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Maintenance
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Physics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic has an AI exposure score of 36%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is projected to decline by 12.8% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 14,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Key skills for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?
The median annual wage for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $47,450, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
The typical entry-level education for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).