Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary by state
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is a professional role in the Production job family, focused on Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenderss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlMonitoringCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders pay by experience level
Entry level$37,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$42,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$49,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$62,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$72,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,900
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary by industry
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
5,320 workers
$52,500
Wood Product Manufacturing
2,330 workers
$49,000
Sawmills and Wood Preservation
1,150 workers
$50,500
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing
890 workers
$49,000
Primary Metal Manufacturing
850 workers
$59,500
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
690 workers
$48,000
Chemical Manufacturing
600 workers
$56,000
Food Manufacturing
590 workers
$48,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
500 workers
$49,000
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)
470 workers
$61,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders pays 6% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make?
The average base salary for a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in the United States is $52,500 per year, or about $25.24 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $42,500 and $62,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
