Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plast: 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.

Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic	$18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.56
Pourers and casters, metal	13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers	12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers	13.65

Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic held about 1.3 million jobs in 2002. Approximately 9 of 10 jobs were found in manufacturing. About 38 percent of all employment was in these manufacturing industries: transportation equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic by detailed occupation.

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	283,000
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	151,000
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	104,000
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	99,000
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	98,000
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	75,000
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	53,000
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	45,000
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,000
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,000
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	26,000
Foundry mold and coremakers	23,000
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,000
Pourers and casters, metal	13,000
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	13,000
Model makers, metal and plastic	8,500
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	6,500
All other metal workers and plastic workers	104,000

(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic)

See more recent statistics for employed workers below.

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Earnings

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin
State maximums: employment earnings: mean 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th
Metro maximums: employment earnings: mean 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th

Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
	Percentile annual earnings, $
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
National
U.S. employment: 26,380 mean earnings: $30,810	19,020	23,420	29,740	36,910	45,000
State and Metro Area
Alabama (ACS) (EAG) employment: 510 mean earnings: $27,860	20,140	23,400	27,650	32,630	35,810
Anniston, AL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,600	20,890	23,580	25,650	27,730	29,300
Birmingham, AL employment: 120 mean earnings: $27,950	19,990	22,230	27,160	32,950	38,890
Huntsville, AL employment: 50 mean earnings: $27,360	23,440	24,620	26,480	28,340	32,820
Mobile, AL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,160	17,980	22,010	27,830	32,400	35,890
Arizona (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $30,710	22,740	25,320	28,310	34,160	40,020
Phoenix - Mesa, AZ employment: 100 mean earnings: $30,410	24,170	25,930	28,850	34,460	38,930
Arkansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 730 mean earnings: $31,500	16,440	23,630	30,490	41,030	44,830
Fayetteville - Springdale - Rogers, AR employment: 100 mean earnings: $28,860	21,480	25,240	27,800	30,930	40,820
Little Rock - North Little Rock, AR employment: 70 mean earnings: $18,880	14,690	15,420	16,630	17,840	29,130
California (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,470 mean earnings: $31,270	18,580	23,230	30,040	38,570	45,650
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA employment: 610 mean earnings: $29,010	17,550	21,460	27,340	35,320	44,370
Oakland, CA employment: 40 mean earnings: $37,070	26,300	30,520	34,570	42,060	54,390
Orange County, CA employment: 150 mean earnings: $27,640	16,110	18,260	25,900	36,460	42,800
Riverside - San Bernardino, CA employment: 90 mean earnings: $35,030	19,480	24,720	34,490	43,490	53,370
San Diego, CA employment: 50 mean earnings: $33,480	23,620	28,000	33,580	38,710	43,890
San Jose, CA employment: 70 mean earnings: $28,990	22,500	24,070	26,590	33,670	42,850
Stockton - Lodi, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,160	19,330	22,840	27,700	34,040	43,680
Colorado (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $31,070	19,810	25,290	31,330	36,960	43,120
Denver, CO employment: 80 mean earnings: $31,240	15,220	25,260	31,780	37,330	43,900
Connecticut (ACS) (EAG) employment: 710 mean earnings: $30,780	20,040	24,350	30,640	35,810	42,960
Bridgeport, CT employment: 100 mean earnings: $32,220	24,230	27,380	31,860	36,220	42,990
Hartford, CT employment: 320 mean earnings: $30,360	19,370	22,440	30,790	35,910	42,580
New Haven - Meriden, CT employment: 80 mean earnings: $34,600	23,920	28,160	33,930	41,320	46,330
Waterbury, CT employment: 110 mean earnings: $29,310	20,310	24,430	28,990	33,310	36,420
Florida (ACS) (EAG) employment: 280 mean earnings: $28,410	18,790	23,410	28,390	32,700	35,400
Jacksonville, FL employment: 30 mean earnings: $30,770	24,180	26,480	30,810	34,740	38,320
Orlando, FL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,790	19,050	28,320	30,710	33,080	34,500
Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater, FL employment: 40 mean earnings: $25,560	18,100	20,520	24,880	30,570	34,930
Georgia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 500 mean earnings: $27,140	19,500	23,150	25,980	28,930	38,160
Atlanta, GA employment: 100 mean earnings: $32,090	23,630	25,750	29,440	37,930	46,550
Idaho (ACS) (EAG) employment: 50 mean earnings: $29,250	22,040	26,060	30,000	33,190	35,130
Illinois (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,470 mean earnings: $28,160	16,650	20,000	28,200	33,920	42,640
Chicago, IL employment: 950 mean earnings: $27,010	16,240	18,470	24,930	32,930	44,220
Peoria - Pekin, IL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,210	16,810	21,970	31,250	35,690	43,180
Rockford, IL employment: 130 mean earnings: $27,720	17,130	21,030	26,380	32,520	39,020
Indiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,110 mean earnings: $33,880	20,260	25,040	31,190	42,500	51,890
Fort Wayne, IN Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 230 mean earnings: $35,180	22,030	25,620	33,430	45,380	52,790
Gary, IN employment: 500 mean earnings: $34,620	17,440	24,170	35,370	44,050	52,110
Indianapolis, IN employment: 230 mean earnings: $33,190	23,060	25,160	29,490	40,990	50,380
Iowa (ACS) (EAG) employment: 350 mean earnings: $30,470	20,200	23,470	29,670	36,470	43,510
Kansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $30,770	17,430	21,850	29,810	39,680	45,770
Kentucky (ACS) (EAG) employment: 420 mean earnings: $29,850	20,680	24,410	29,290	35,720	40,950
Lexington, KY employment: n.a. mean earnings: $23,100	18,680	20,170	22,820	25,940	27,790
Louisville, KY - IN employment: 80 mean earnings: $31,420	20,700	23,820	31,240	36,930	44,150
Louisiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $29,720	17,710	22,720	28,180	36,540	43,410
New Orleans, LA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,830	19,200	22,690	29,730	35,470	42,540
Maine (ACS) (EAG) employment: 50 mean earnings: $23,370	16,410	18,980	22,290	27,730	32,770
Massachusetts (ACS) (EAG) employment: 570 mean earnings: $31,660	19,030	23,160	30,840	40,320	45,930
Boston, MA - NH employment: 230 mean earnings: $36,790	21,990	28,500	39,590	44,790	48,230
Brockton, MA employment: 30 mean earnings: $26,610	18,320	20,600	28,950	32,690	34,930
Springfield, MA employment: 80 mean earnings: $26,390	15,670	17,270	27,710	33,460	38,110
Worcester, MA - CT employment: 130 mean earnings: $27,320	19,050	21,410	25,570	32,520	39,660
Michigan (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,140 mean earnings: $34,070	19,770	24,610	32,440	44,580	52,590
Ann Arbor, MI employment: 60 mean earnings: $38,120	19,940	23,440	39,220	44,360	62,790
Benton Harbor, MI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $38,530	16,170	23,640	46,650	51,990	55,190
Detroit, MI employment: 740 mean earnings: $37,280	22,230	30,770	35,470	47,310	53,650
Flint, MI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $42,980	22,300	27,630	48,750	53,230	55,920
Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Holland, MI employment: 250 mean earnings: $31,720	20,330	23,700	30,050	36,190	49,750
Kalamazoo - Battle Creek, MI employment: 100 mean earnings: $24,800	19,310	20,900	23,830	27,350	31,220
Saginaw - Bay City - Midland, MI employment: 50 mean earnings: $25,710	16,160	18,730	23,900	31,290	36,620
Minnesota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $29,740	18,040	23,710	28,900	36,330	42,810
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN - WI employment: 200 mean earnings: $30,460	21,620	24,930	28,700	35,820	42,780
Mississippi (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 250 mean earnings: $30,070	14,020	21,460	31,700	39,500	43,670
Missouri (ACS) (EAG) employment: 620 mean earnings: $27,010	17,280	21,020	26,260	32,480	37,030
Kansas City, MO - KS employment: 70 mean earnings: $24,540	15,270	17,110	21,780	32,270	35,360
St. Louis, MO - IL employment: 380 mean earnings: $31,260	22,700	25,530	30,890	35,660	42,020
Nebraska (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $27,150	20,500	24,510	27,590	30,870	34,000
Omaha, NE - IA employment: 30 mean earnings: $28,870	19,100	25,920	30,310	33,610	35,590
New Hampshire (ACS) (EAG) employment: 70 mean earnings: $32,570	23,970	28,990	32,830	36,490	41,570
New Jersey (ACS) (EAG) employment: 490 mean earnings: $26,370	15,720	18,490	25,300	32,770	38,490
Bergen - Passaic, NJ employment: 70 mean earnings: $24,240	18,220	19,830	22,540	29,470	33,450
Middlesex - Somerset - Hunterdon, NJ employment: 90 mean earnings: $29,500	17,550	21,240	27,830	34,540	48,720
Newark, NJ employment: 210 mean earnings: $22,210	14,730	16,150	19,810	29,050	33,640
New York (ACS) (EAG) employment: 970 mean earnings: $35,690	21,530	28,510	35,440	43,230	51,690
Albany - Schenectady - Troy, NY employment: n.a. mean earnings: $35,330	16,610	23,080	37,680	45,790	53,240
Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY employment: 170 mean earnings: $39,050	23,270	30,320	35,110	51,480	57,050
Nassau - Suffolk, NY employment: 40 mean earnings: $31,810	19,540	24,280	30,560	37,730	44,210
New York, NY employment: 40 mean earnings: $36,080	25,990	31,470	37,010	41,430	44,150
Utica - Rome, NY employment: 70 mean earnings: $31,560	18,640	23,750	32,510	39,950	43,820
North Carolina (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 840 mean earnings: $29,290	19,180	23,360	28,220	35,510	41,680
Charlotte - Gastonia - Rock Hill, NC - SC employment: 280 mean earnings: $35,320	20,770	25,040	32,550	40,890	60,190
Greensboro - - Winston - Salem - - High Point, NC employment: 80 mean earnings: $26,290	15,210	16,730	26,240	34,450	40,480
Raleigh - Durham - Chapel Hill, NC employment: 40 mean earnings: $28,750	21,280	24,490	27,830	33,310	39,530
Ohio (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,220 mean earnings: $32,180	19,760	23,640	30,730	39,310	49,350
Akron, OH employment: 60 mean earnings: $27,460	19,760	22,550	26,750	32,370	35,700
Canton - Massillon, OH Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 220 mean earnings: $29,310	20,120	23,440	27,100	33,900	42,620
Cincinnati, OH - KY - IN employment: 170 mean earnings: $35,840	24,260	27,630	35,070	44,730	51,350
Cleveland - Lorain - Elyria, OH employment: 640 mean earnings: $28,740	18,720	20,390	27,490	36,450	42,520
Columbus, OH employment: 60 mean earnings: $33,980	24,740	30,130	33,940	39,450	44,150
Dayton - Springfield, OH employment: 250 mean earnings: $33,830	23,120	25,340	30,440	43,080	49,340
Hamilton - Middletown, OH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,100	26,070	29,540	31,830	34,120	35,500
Mansfield, OH employment: 110 mean earnings: $39,490	25,170	29,140	36,090	51,180	55,540
Toledo, OH employment: 130 mean earnings: $36,950	20,730	25,020	29,530	51,940	56,160
Youngstown - Warren, OH employment: 150 mean earnings: $28,890	18,390	22,690	27,060	35,130	42,700
Oklahoma (ACS) (EAG) employment: 320 mean earnings: $30,620	20,570	24,690	29,980	35,980	42,540
Oklahoma City, OK employment: 70 mean earnings: $36,380	24,090	28,290	36,070	43,800	51,180
Tulsa, OK Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 140 mean earnings: $28,950	21,920	24,980	28,710	33,330	36,510
Oregon (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 230 mean earnings: $30,820	21,100	24,910	29,940	36,160	42,670
Portland - Vancouver, OR - WA employment: 190 mean earnings: $29,140	20,680	24,210	28,780	34,000	39,780
Pennsylvania (ACS) (EAG) employment: 2,180 mean earnings: $31,130	19,410	24,480	30,580	36,780	44,160
Altoona, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,690	19,120	20,890	24,530	29,980	34,370
Harrisburg - Lebanon - Carlisle, PA employment: 50 mean earnings: $29,400	22,870	27,410	30,580	33,170	34,730
Lancaster, PA employment: 110 mean earnings: $28,830	22,800	24,630	27,580	32,810	36,740
Philadelphia, PA - NJ employment: 360 mean earnings: $34,730	25,120	28,590	33,580	40,770	47,380
Pittsburgh, PA employment: 570 mean earnings: $32,850	20,370	26,210	31,840	38,470	46,160
Scranton - - Wilkes - Barre - - Hazleton, PA employment: 100 mean earnings: $32,070	25,100	29,180	32,180	35,150	39,610
York, PA employment: 50 mean earnings: $32,470	23,010	26,690	31,340	37,900	45,310
Rhode Island (ACS) (EAG) employment: 140 mean earnings: $32,940	23,430	29,170	32,890	37,770	43,910
Providence - Fall River - Warwick, RI - MA employment: 170 mean earnings: $31,940	20,970	27,060	32,210	36,360	43,590
South Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 840 mean earnings: $31,460	19,110	23,250	30,090	38,350	44,030
Charleston - North Charleston, SC employment: n.a. mean earnings: $37,760	25,630	36,530	39,440	42,350	44,100
Greenville - Spartanburg - Anderson, SC employment: 300 mean earnings: $33,080	18,980	25,750	35,340	41,360	44,530
South Dakota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 30 mean earnings: $24,610	15,990	18,290	22,980	29,660	35,740
Tennessee (ACS) (EAG) employment: 650 mean earnings: $29,000	20,270	23,110	27,880	33,760	38,460
Chattanooga, TN - GA employment: 70 mean earnings: $32,510	22,240	24,730	28,450	40,790	48,410
Johnson City - Kingsport - Bristol, TN - VA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 70 mean earnings: $33,010	20,650	25,020	31,740	37,440	52,150
Knoxville, TN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,120	22,990	24,510	27,010	31,070	34,780
Memphis, TN - AR - MS Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 40 mean earnings: $27,120	18,840	24,090	28,120	31,490	33,980
Nashville, TN employment: 90 mean earnings: $30,410	21,070	25,250	30,410	35,050	41,600
Texas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,840 mean earnings: $26,170	16,860	20,120	25,010	32,070	37,880
Corpus Christi, TX Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 60 mean earnings: $30,500	22,450	26,890	30,680	33,720	35,710
Fort Worth - Arlington, TX employment: 210 mean earnings: $28,520	19,520	23,270	27,830	34,100	39,770
Houston, TX employment: 740 mean earnings: $27,170	16,360	20,370	26,850	33,670	40,080
Longview - Marshall, TX employment: 30 mean earnings: $25,190	18,700	21,740	25,220	28,370	32,810
Utah (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $30,940	19,930	24,770	28,920	37,090	44,550
Salt Lake City - Ogden, UT employment: 60 mean earnings: $32,620	24,100	26,050	29,210	38,790	46,560
Vermont (ACS) (EAG) employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,700	26,780	29,590	32,280	34,740	36,600
Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 650 mean earnings: $26,790	16,580	22,850	26,310	31,740	35,810
Norfolk - Virginia Beach - Newport News, VA - NC employment: 60 mean earnings: $29,020	16,550	23,580	29,250	34,990	41,840
Richmond - Petersburg, VA employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,930	17,110	24,390	30,250	34,250	37,050
Washington (ACS) (EAG) employment: 190 mean earnings: $37,160	24,900	30,090	37,580	42,680	46,380
Seattle - Bellevue - Everett, WA employment: 70 mean earnings: $40,850	27,530	33,530	38,600	43,810	63,290
Spokane, WA employment: 60 mean earnings: $38,230	25,970	37,480	40,500	43,510	45,320
West Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,670	20,250	25,710	32,600	36,890	42,800
Wisconsin (ACS) (EAG) employment: 860 mean earnings: $30,910	22,680	25,330	29,920	35,600	42,510
Milwaukee - Waukesha, WI employment: 270 mean earnings: $30,590	23,010	25,170	28,630	34,770	42,800
Racine, WI employment: 120 mean earnings: $30,920	22,540	26,850	31,660	35,300	38,330

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The highlighted text indicates the maximum values in each column among the states and metropolitan areas.

The (ACS) links lead to data from the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

The (EAG) links lead to U.S. Economy at a Glance data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.