The median pay for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is $48,040 a year ($23.10/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% through 2035, with about 1,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9051
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $48,040a year, or $23.10/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $70K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.6%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,80014,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.5K
- Projected 203514.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.5K Projected 2035 14.9K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school21.4%
- High school55.9%
- Certificate15.9%
- Some college3.9%
- Associate's1%
- Bachelor's1.8%
Highest education held by furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 21.4% High school 55.9% Certificate 15.9% Some college 3.9% Associate's 1% Bachelor's 1.8%
Also advertised as: Annealing Operator, Dry Kiln Operator, Dryer Feeder, Evaporator Operator, Furnace Operator, Kiln Fireman.
Pay
How much do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make?
Every furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operator and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$48,040
Middle half earn $41,130 to $59,830
- 10th
- $35,960
- 25th
- $41,130
- 75th
- $59,830
- 90th
- $69,800
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,960 |
| 25th | $41,130 |
| Median | $48,040 |
| 75th | $59,830 |
| 90th | $69,800 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $48,040
- Median hourly wage
- $23.10/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $50,940
- People employed
- 14,280
Versus all US occupations
At $48,040, Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,940 a year.
Versus production occupations
The median is typical for the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $69,800 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,960, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Maryland posts the highest raw median ($77,440), but once local prices are taken into account Kentucky leads at $83,874 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maryland | $77,440 | $73,781 | 100 |
| 2Kentucky | $75,620 | $83,874 | 240 |
| 3Illinois | $62,870 | $62,896 | 230 |
| 4Kansas | $62,350 | $69,225 | 210 |
| 5Wyoming | $62,130 | $67,029 | 50 |
| 6North Dakota | $60,170 | $67,638 | 70 |
| 7Washington | $58,580 | $54,741 | 430 |
| 8Idaho | $57,690 | $60,412 | 120 |
| 9Wisconsin | $56,140 | $59,663 | 210 |
| 10Colorado | $55,770 | $54,118 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | +2.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders to change 2.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,800 openings are projected each year, 12.4% of the 14,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)55.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma21.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate15.9%
- Some College Courses3.9%
- Bachelor's Degree1.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 55.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 21.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.9% |
| Some College Courses | 3.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender do?
Operate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. Includes activities such as annealing glass, drying lumber, curing rubber, removing moisture from materials, or boiling soap.
Day-to-day tasks
- Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
- Monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.
- Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
- Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
- Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Writing2.6
- Active Learning2.4
- Mathematics2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Coordination2.5
- Complex Problem Solving2.4
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4
- Time Management2.4
- Social Perceptiveness2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.4 |
| Time Management | 2.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Industrial control software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.8
- Conventional4.4
- Investigative2.1
- Social1.3
- Enterprising1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender
O*NET related occupations
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$51,610median a year
Most earn $36K to $80K
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$45,760median a year
Most earn $35K to $63K
+1.5%High school - Production
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$54,430median a year
Most earn $39K to $74K
−2.9%High school - Production
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$48,750median a year
Most earn $35K to $66K
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$43,530median a year
Most earn $34K to $59K
+3.4%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
More production careers
Median annual pay, with furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender$48,040
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender | $48,040 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender appears on
Questions
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make?
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders earn a median of $48,040 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.10/hr. The middle half earn between $41,130 and $59,830. The top 10% earn $69,800 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.6% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender do?
Operate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. A core O*NET task: confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders are Maryland ($77,440), Kentucky ($75,620), Illinois ($62,870) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Kentucky moves to the top at $83,874.
What personality type suits a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender?
O*NET scores Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.