Metal making and treating process operatives

£31,286

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

48 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

6.35%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

Definition: Metal making and treating process operatives

*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 8117

Metal making and treating process operatives operate furnaces, ovens and other heating vessels, drawing, rolling, extruding, galvanising, forging and other metal processing equipment to smelt, shape and treat metal and metal products.

Common tasks include:

charges furnace, operates controls to regulate furnace temperature, and adds oxidising, alloying and fluxing agents as required;
withdraws samples of molten metal for analysis, taps slag from surface of molten metal and directs flow of molten metal into casts;
sets rolling speed, tension and space between rolls, guides the metal to and from rollers, and monitors the rolling process to detect irregularities, and ensure that the gauge and finish match required specifications;
operates equipment to remove dirt, scale and other surface impurities by immersion in chemical solution;
heats metal or metal articles in furnace, allows to cool for a specified time or quenches in brine, oil or water to harden, reduces brittleness and restores ductility;
operates piercing, extruding, pressing and other metal processing equipment to shape and treat metal or metal articles.

Qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Steel Making, Steel Refining, Steel Casting and Metal Forging are available at Levels 2 and 3.

*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.

Employment status: Metal making and treating process operatives

Regional employment: Metal making and treating process operatives

Future employment: Metal making and treating process operatives

Top 12 industries: Metal making and treating process operatives

Alternative & related job titles: Metal making and treating process operatives

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Equality focus: Metal making and treating process operatives

Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.