SOC 519051

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

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

$47,010

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$47,010

Entry Level (10th pct)

$35,010

Experienced (90th pct)

$66,190

Total Employed

16,160

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$35,010 - $39,250
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$39,250 - $57,840
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$57,840 - $66,190

Highest Paying Locations for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

$79,270

+68.6% vs national

Kentucky

$75,220

+60.0% vs national

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

$75,010

+59.6% vs national

Maryland

$75,000

+59.5% vs national

Wyoming

$74,530

+58.5% vs national

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$79,270	90
Kentucky	$75,220	260
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$75,010	N/A
Maryland	$75,000	120
Wyoming	$74,530	40
Longview-Kelso, WA	$66,830	50
Nevada	$66,800	40
Virginia	$64,510	280
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area	$64,120	60
Richmond, VA	$62,620	30
Vineland, NJ	$62,480	80
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$61,770	120
Madison, WI	$60,700	50
Minnesota	$60,130	80
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$60,100	60
Massachusetts	$59,760	130
St. Louis, MO-IL	$59,430	90
New Jersey	$58,510	480
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$57,320	40
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$57,270	80
Illinois	$57,140	470
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area	$57,010	90
Idaho	$56,540	150
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$56,410	310
Iowa	$55,800	200
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area	$55,340	100
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$55,330	410
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$55,130	40
Washington	$54,060	600
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$54,060	230
Savannah, GA	$53,910	30
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$53,880	170
Missouri	$53,670	270
North Missouri nonmetropolitan area	$53,670	50
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$53,650	130
New York	$53,650	670
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$53,360	80
Medford, OR	$52,980	40
West Virginia	$52,640	130
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$52,050	N/A
Indiana	$52,000	720
New Hampshire	$51,300	60
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$51,220	70
North Dakota	$51,080	110
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$51,070	60
Oregon	$50,620	470
Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$50,540	100
Birmingham, AL	$50,350	350
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area	$50,310	40
Wisconsin	$50,220	430

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders?

The national median annual salary for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is $47,010, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenderss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenderss is Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, with a median salary of $79,270.

How much can an experienced Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make?

Top-earning Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenderss (90th percentile) make $66,190 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.