CareerGPS.com

< Back to List

2020	2025	Numerical	Percent	New Jobs	Replacement Jobs	Total	Median Hourly	Median Annual	Training Levels
Potters, Manufacturing
Summary Occupational Forecast Data for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Employment		Employment Change		Average Annual Job Openings			Wage & Training Levels
360	394	34	9.47%	7	58	65	$19.67	$40,913	High school diploma or equivalent
Description:		Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
						Forecast Data Source: EMSI (4th Quarter 2023)

Occupation Details

The information in this section represents occupational characteristics included in O*NET which defines key features of an occupation as a standardized, measurable set of variables called "descriptors". These distinguishing characteristics of an occupation are described in greater detail in the O*NET Content Model. All items are listed in descending order of importance.

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.
Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
Mix and apply glazes, and load glazed pieces into kilns for firing.
Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels in order to separate finished pieces.
Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.

Knowledge

76%	Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
71%	Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
62%	Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
58%	Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
57%	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
53%	Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
52%	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
51%	Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m

Skills

60%	Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
53%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
53%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
53%	Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
50%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities

75%	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
72%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
72%	Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
69%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
65%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
65%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
62%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
56%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
53%	Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
53%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
53%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
53%	Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
50%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
50%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
50%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
50%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
50%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Work Activities

92%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
83%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
82%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
79%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
74%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
71%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
70%	Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
68%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
65%	Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
64%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
64%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
62%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
60%	Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
60%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
58%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
58%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
57%	Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
52%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
50%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Title	Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Overall Experience	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.
Job Training	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.
Job Zone Examples	These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include food service managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.
Education	Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Interests

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outsi

Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Work Styles

Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.

Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.