Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Mean (average) | $50,940 | $24.49 |
| 90th percentile | $69,800 | $33.56 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,600 | $38,240 | $74,710 | 1,090 | 5.63 |
| Arizona | $44,530 | $36,260 | $47,010 | 140 | 0.47 |
| Arkansas | $43,560 | $34,910 | $63,730 | 150 | 1.22 |
| California | $45,300 | $36,430 | $64,460 | 900 | 0.54 |
| Colorado | $55,770 | $44,950 | $64,840 | 100 | 0.36 |
| Florida | $42,400 | $34,420 | $58,220 | 350 | 0.38 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | $35,000 | $72,910 | 870 | 1.93 |
| Idaho | $57,690 | $49,130 | $60,850 | 120 | 1.49 |
| Illinois | $62,870 | $45,620 | $73,210 | 230 | 0.41 |
| Indiana | $48,770 | $42,750 | $66,050 | 650 | 2.23 |
| Iowa | $45,910 | $36,640 | $60,540 | 100 | 0.71 |
| Kansas | $62,350 | $46,600 | $76,180 | 210 | 1.56 |
| Kentucky | $75,620 | $52,140 | $83,270 | 240 | 1.32 |
| Louisiana | $47,820 | $43,720 | $64,160 | 120 | 0.69 |
| Maine | $48,060 | $36,760 | $71,700 | 70 | 1.27 |
| Maryland | $77,440 | $38,720 | $77,470 | 100 | 0.38 |
| Massachusetts | $53,300 | $39,050 | $72,560 | 120 | 0.36 |
| Michigan | $47,410 | $32,210 | $67,460 | 420 | 1.03 |
| Minnesota | $47,210 | $39,520 | $75,880 | 100 | 0.36 |
| Mississippi | $44,370 | $35,360 | $52,200 | 370 | 3.43 |
| Missouri | $49,470 | $39,730 | $63,920 | 270 | 1.01 |
| Montana | $53,250 | $27,600 | $60,540 | 100 | 2.11 |
| Nebraska | $41,650 | $29,550 | $58,430 | 100 | 1.1 |
| New Hampshire | $49,250 | $41,190 | $63,170 | 60 | 0.93 |
| New Jersey | $52,440 | $36,080 | $73,720 | 300 | 0.77 |
| New York | $49,280 | $40,290 | $73,080 | 490 | 0.55 |
| North Carolina | $39,310 | $28,890 | $57,150 | 530 | 1.17 |
| North Dakota | $60,170 | $47,400 | $64,070 | 70 | 1.66 |
| Ohio | $46,190 | $35,810 | $63,920 | 1,580 | 3.1 |
| Oklahoma | $42,970 | $32,640 | $57,780 | 370 | 2.36 |
| Oregon | $50,820 | $42,960 | $68,970 | 540 | 2.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,610 | $37,780 | $64,480 | 410 | 0.74 |
| South Carolina | $48,170 | $36,590 | $63,840 | 300 | 1.41 |
| South Dakota | $48,200 | $40,970 | $65,510 | 40 | 1.02 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | $38,960 | $57,890 | 640 | 2.14 |
| Texas | $45,040 | $34,520 | $71,960 | 780 | 0.61 |
| Utah | $45,610 | $32,100 | $81,430 | 130 | 0.79 |
| Vermont | $52,560 | $38,190 | $60,310 | 50 | 1.83 |
| Virginia | $49,650 | $34,790 | $72,890 | 260 | 0.7 |
| Washington | $58,580 | $47,200 | $72,680 | 430 | 1.31 |
| West Virginia | $45,690 | $36,620 | $59,610 | 80 | 1.29 |
| Wisconsin | $56,140 | $45,100 | $64,600 | 210 | 0.77 |
| Wyoming | $62,130 | $47,500 | $115,270 | 50 | 1.87 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.8%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.
- Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
- Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
- Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
- Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
- Examine or test samples of processed substances, or collect samples for laboratory testing, to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Transport materials and products to and from work areas, manually or using carts, handtrucks, or hoists.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Inventory tracking software
- Machine operation software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Annealing Operator, Dry Kiln Operator, Dryer Feeder, Evaporator Operator, Furnace Operator, Kiln Fireman, Kiln Operator, Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator, Oven Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders was $48,040 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,960 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $69,800. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders to change +2.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($77,440), Kentucky ($75,620), Illinois ($62,870). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.