Metal annealer
Also called annealing operator, annealing kiln worker, metal annealing worker
Metal annealers operate electric or gas kilns to soften metal so it can be cut and shaped more easily. They heat the metal to a specific temperature and/or colour and then slowly cool it, both according to specifications. Metal annealers inspect the metals through the entire process to observe any flaws.
What you'd do
Metal processing plant operators · ILO- Setting up, preparing and adjusting mineral ore and metal processing machinery to carry out one step in the overall mineral ore or metal processing operation
- Operating single-function machinery to grind, separate, filter, mix, treat, cast, roll, refine or otherwise process metals and mineral ores
- Observing gauges, meters, computer printouts, video monitors and products to ensure correct operation of machines and verify specified processing conditions
- Adjusting equipment, valves, pumps, controls and process equipment
- Controlling the preparation, measuring and feeding of raw materials and processing agents into plant
- Controlling process start-up and shut-down, troubleshooting and monitoring outside process equipment
- Verifying equipment for malfunctions, carrying out routine operating tests and arranging for maintenance
- Analysing sample products, performing tests, recording data and writing production logs
- Indoors
- On your feet most of the day
- Lots of contact with people, mostly with colleagues
- Some freedom to decide
- Often more than 40 hours a week
- Deadlines every day
- Very repetitive tasks
Will there be jobs?
Limited prospectsFewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
About averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among plant and machine operators, and assemblers in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Upper secondary or vocationalUpper secondary or vocational training in mechanics and metal trades is the usual route.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
Very littleAI could help with only small parts of the tasks.
Average task score 0.26 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for metal processing plant operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).