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Potters, Manufacturing

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$45,690	6600	5.3%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$45,690

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

6600

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

5.3%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Some College Courses

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Shape clay or dough to create products.
Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
Position raw materials on processing or production equipment.
Shape clay or dough to create products.
Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
Develop professional relationships or networks.
Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment.
Design jewelry or decorative objects.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Conduct test runs of production equipment.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Operate heating or drying equipment.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
Operate mixing equipment.
Teach classes in area of specialization.
Operate heating or drying equipment.
Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
Package objects for shipping.
Send information, materials or documentation.
Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
Attach handles to pottery pieces.
Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.
Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
Design spaces to display pottery for sale.
Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
Teach pottery classes.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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