How much does a heat treating equipment setter make?
The median heat treating equipment setter in the United States earns $48,750 per year, about $23.44 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all heat treating equipment setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-4191.
Heat treating equipment setter salary range
Pay for heat treating equipment setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,180 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $66,350. The average (mean) wage of $50,450 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,180 | $16.92 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $40,660 | $19.55 | |
| Median (50th) | $48,750 | $23.44 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $58,400 | $28.08 | |
| 90th percentile | $66,350 | $31.90 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4191), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Heat treating equipment setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Heat treating equipment setters earn the most in Washington at $61,990 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $35,180. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,990 | 140 |
| Oregon | $60,280 | 240 |
| Colorado | $58,300 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $56,880 | 70 |
| Virginia | $55,070 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $54,930 | 670 |
| New York | $52,940 | 280 |
| Ohio | $52,880 | 1,040 |
| New Hampshire | $52,250 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $51,680 | 120 |
| Arizona | $50,660 | 160 |
| Michigan | $50,560 | 1,190 |
| California | $50,150 | 770 |
| Iowa | $49,760 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $49,640 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $49,280 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $49,100 | 470 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,800 | 1,520 |
| Nebraska | $48,120 | 50 |
| Missouri | $47,980 | 140 |
| Utah | $47,860 | 90 |
| Kansas | $47,500 | 50 |
| Florida | $47,370 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $47,090 | 340 |
| Alabama | $46,920 | 170 |
| Indiana | $46,860 | 990 |
| South Carolina | $46,750 | 290 |
| North Carolina | $46,660 | 320 |
| Mississippi | $46,630 | 80 |
| Maine | $45,590 | 40 |
| Illinois | $45,340 | 850 |
| Connecticut | $44,350 | 320 |
| Georgia | $44,050 | 250 |
| Texas | $41,690 | 1,450 |
| Minnesota | $41,100 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $37,590 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $35,180 | N/A |
State median wages for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (SOC 51-4191), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for heat treating equipment setters
The BLS projects employment of heat treating equipment setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 9.5%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 14,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 13,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,100 openings a year for heat treating equipment setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a heat treating equipment setter
The typical entry-level education for heat treating equipment setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a heat treating equipment setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $61,990) and the lowest (Louisiana, $35,180) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 14,000 people work as heat treating equipment setters in the United States. At $48,750 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Heat treating equipment setter salary FAQ
How much does a heat treating equipment setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a heat treating equipment setter is $23.44. The middle half of heat treating equipment setters earn between $19.55 and $28.08 per hour.
What is the highest heat treating equipment setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of heat treating equipment setters earn more than $66,350 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a heat treating equipment setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a heat treating equipment setter is $48,750. The average (mean) wage of $50,450 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a heat treating equipment setter a well paid job?
At $48,750 a year, a heat treating equipment setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 14,000 people work as heat treating equipment setters in the United States.
Which state pays heat treating equipment setters the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for heat treating equipment setters at $61,990 a year. Oregon ($60,280) and Colorado ($58,300) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a heat treating equipment setter a good career?
Employment of heat treating equipment setters is projected to shrink 9.5% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a heat treating equipment setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for heat treating equipment setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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