dry press operator
Dry press operators press dry tempered clay or silica into bricks and other shapes. They select and fix the pressing dies, using rule and wenches. Dry press operators remove the bricks from the press machine and stack them in a specified pattern on the kiln car.
dry press operator dry press operators press dry tempered clay or silica into bricks and other shapes. They select and fix the pressing dies, using rule and wenches. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include optimise production processes parameters, transfer bricks, monitor gauge, use wrenches, tend dry-press.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £31,717 a year for Process operatives n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8119). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only dry press operator, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Fine Arts
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Customer and Personal Service
- Chemistry
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Engineering and Technology
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does dry press operator do?
Dry press operators press dry tempered clay or silica into bricks and other shapes. They select and fix the pressing dies, using rule and wenches. Dry press operators remove the bricks from the press machine and stack them in a specified pattern on the kiln car.
What skills does dry press operator need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include optimise production processes parameters, transfer bricks, monitor gauge, use wrenches, tend dry-press, replace die. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace dry press operator?
Our AI-durability model gives dry press operator a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.