Metal Furnace Operator
Run furnaces that melt and refine metal in mills and foundries.
- $54,430
- A few months on the job
Mechanics, Maintenance & Manufacturing career
Heat Treating Operator
Also called: Heat Treater · Furnace Operator · Annealer · Hardening Operator
What heat treating operators do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a heat treating operator do?
Heat treating equipment setters, operators and tenders, metal and plastic, set up, operate or tend heating equipment such as furnaces and quench tanks to harden, anneal or temper metal parts. The median pay is $48,750 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few months on the job, and employment is projected to grow -9.5% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$48,750$23.44/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-9.5%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year1,100Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to trainA few months on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs14,400Employment, 2025
What heat treating operators do
Heat treaters change metal’s properties with heat. They load parts into furnaces, run hardening, tempering and annealing cycles, quench parts in oil, water or gas, test hardness and keep records for every load.
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. BLS projects decline.
Typical duties
- Load furnaces
- Set cycles
- Quench parts
- Temper and anneal
- Test hardness
- Record loads
- Maintain equipment
Work environment and schedule
Heat treaters work in hot plant areas and commercial heat treat shops.
Schedule: Full time, often rotating shifts because furnaces run around the clock.
A day in the life
- Check furnace atmospheres.
- Rack parts.
- Load the hardening furnace.
- Quench in oil.
See a full day in the life of a heat treating operator →
Heat Treating Operator salary
Half of heat treating operators earned more than $48,750 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $35,180 for the lowest 10% to $66,350 for the top 10%.
Full heat treating operator pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a heat treating operator
- Finish high school
- Get hired
- Learn furnaces
- Learn testing
- Advance
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a heat treating operator →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Furnace operation
- Hardening and tempering
- Quenching
- Hardness testing
- Metallurgy basics
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Safety focus
- Reliability
- Patience
All heat treating operator skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Technical skill
- No degree needed
- Steady demand from many industries
- Clear procedures
Cons
- Heat
- Shift work
- Fire hazards from quench oil
- Declining employment
Certifications and licenses
- ASM heat treating courses: ASM International.
- Nadcap training: Aerospace.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Hardness testing training: Employer.
Career path
- Helper: Entry.
- Heat Treater: Operate.
- Lead Heat Treater: Lead.
- Heat Treat Supervisor: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Heat Treating Operator training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as harden and temper a steel part and run a rockwell hardness test, safety and how to land your first job.
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Quality Control Inspector
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Furnace and Kiln Operator
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Compare: Heat Treating Operator vs. Metal Furnace Operator · Heat Treating Operator vs. Forging Machine Operator · Heat Treating Operator vs. QC Inspector · Heat Treating Operator vs. Furnace and Kiln Operator
Heat Treating Operator FAQ
Do I need a degree?
No.
Is the job declining?
BLS projects decline.
Why does it matter?
Heat treating gives parts strength and wear resistance.
How much does a heat treating operator make?
The median annual wage for heat treating operators was $48,750 ($23.44 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,180 and the highest 10% earned more than $66,350.
How long does it take to become a heat treating operator?
Most people need about A few months on the job of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Do you need a degree to be a heat treating operator?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More heat treating operator questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-4191 (Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.