Occupation salary profile

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

SOC 51-9051 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$48,040
▲ +2.19% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$50,940
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
14,280
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$35,960
25th$41,130
Median (50th)$48,040
75th$59,830
90th — top pay$69,800

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Monthly—
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Daily—
Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

BLS projects employment of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
14,500 → 14,900
+400 jobs
Projected change
+2.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.8% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring3.9
  • Active Listening3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Operation and Control3.1
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
  • Speaking3.1
  • Quality Control Analysis3.0
  • Writing2.6
  • Coordination2.5
Top knowledge areas
  • Mechanical3.5
  • Production and Processing3.2
  • Public Safety and Security3.1
  • Computers and Electronics3.0
  • English Language2.8
  • Education and Training2.8
  • Mathematics2.7
  • Administration and Management2.6
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft WordInventory tracking softwareMachine operation software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders do

  • 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.
  • Stop equipment and clear blockages or jams, using fingers, wire, or hand tools.
Also called
Dry Kiln OperatorFurnace OperatorKiln FiremanKiln OperatorAnnealing OperatorDryer FeederEvaporator OperatorLime Kiln and Recausticizing OperatorOven Operator
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Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.