Potters, Manufacturing
Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
Median pay: $46,170/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +6.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — faster than average.
About 5,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Potters, Manufacturing?
The median pay for Potters, Manufacturing is $46,170 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Potters, Manufacturing?
Employment for Potters, Manufacturing is projected to change +6.2% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.
What education is typically required for Potters, Manufacturing?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Potters, Manufacturing?
About 5,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.