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Career

Potters, Manufacturing

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $46,170 Median per year · $22.20/hr Most earn $35,850–$61,530

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Attach handles to pottery pieces.
  • Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
  • Teach pottery classes.
  • Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
  • Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
  • Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 5,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing51.7%
  • Self-employed (their own business)22.7%
  • Plastics product manufacturing2.3%
  • Temporary help services2.2%
  • Rubber product manufacturing2.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Potter in manufacturing is usually not a straight-out-of-school job. Most people finish high school, complete a ceramics certificate or apprenticeship, and then work 2 to 4 years in clay production before taking this role.

  1. High school diploma with art and shop classes

    4 years

    Build hands-on skills and comfort with tools and materials, which are the foundation for working with clay on production equipment.

  2. Ceramics certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    Learn clay preparation, wheel and jigger techniques, glazing, and kiln firing, which employers look for when hiring production workers.

  3. Molder, Shaper, or Caster

    2-4 years

    Work with molds and clay forms on a production line, building the speed, consistency, and machine-operation experience needed to run pug mills and jigger machines on your own.

  4. Potter, Manufacturing

    Career

    Operate production machines such as pug mills, jiggers, and potter's wheels to shape clay into ceramic, pottery, and stoneware products.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Potter

    3-5 years of experience first

    You train newer workers, check quality on the line, and help troubleshoot machines, so you need strong skills and reliability plus some teaching ability.

  2. Craft Artist

    1-2 years of experience first

    Some experienced potters move toward making and selling their own handmade work, which requires building a strong portfolio and a personal style.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take ceramics or pottery classesHands-on practice with clay and the wheel builds the basic skills you'll use on any production job.
  • Take shop, math, and chemistry classesMeasuring, following specifications, and understanding how materials change when fired all matter in ceramic manufacturing.
  • Join the art club or a school craft groupWorking on projects with others helps you practice teamwork and get feedback on your work.
  • Get a part-time job or volunteer at a pottery studio or craft shopEven simple tasks like mixing clay or cleaning equipment show employers you are dependable and interested in the field.
  • Ask a potter or factory worker for an informational interviewLearning what the job is really like helps you decide whether to pursue training after high school.

In college

  • Take ceramics and production coursesClasses in wheel throwing, slip casting, glazing, and kiln firing build the technical knowledge this career depends on.
  • Look for a studio assistant or lab job in the ceramics departmentHelping with clay prep and firing gives you paid, hands-on experience with equipment similar to production machines.
  • Consider a ceramics certificate or apprenticeship programA formal credential or apprenticeship is the typical training route for this career and can make you a stronger job candidate.
  • Seek an internship at a ceramics manufacturer or pottery studioWorking in a real production setting lets you see the pace, safety rules, and quality standards you'd need to meet.
  • Join a clay club or student craft organizationConnecting with other makers builds your network and gives you a place to practice outside class.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep a simple portfolio of clay work, even from class projects. Employers and studios often want to see what you can make.
  • Ask a local pottery studio or ceramics factory if you can tour it or talk with a worker. Real-world exposure helps you know if this work fits you.
  • Ask about apprenticeships early. Many people enter this field through hands-on training rather than a four-year degree.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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