SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 51-9051.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $35,960 | $2,997 | $692 | $17.29 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $41,130 | $3,428 | $791 | $19.77 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $48,040 | $4,003 | $924 | $23.10 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $59,830 | $4,986 | $1,151 | $28.77 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $69,800 | $5,817 | $1,342 | $33.56 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is $48,040, which is 6% lower. Among the 105 occupations of the field Production, it ranks number 49 by median pay. With 14,280 jobs, it makes up about 0.9 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders pay by state
The highest median pay was in Maryland ($77,440), Kentucky ($75,620) and Illinois ($62,870). The lowest was in North Carolina ($39,310), Nebraska ($41,650) and Florida ($42,400). The most jobs were in Ohio (1,580), Alabama (1,090) and California (900). The occupation is most concentrated in Alabama, where its share of all jobs is 5.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 100 | $77,440 | $63,660 | $37.23 |
| Kentucky | 240 | $75,620 | $70,450 | $36.36 |
| Illinois | 230 | $62,870 | $59,960 | $30.23 |
| Kansas | 210 | $62,350 | $60,340 | $29.98 |
| Wyoming | 50 | $62,130 | $71,130 | $29.87 |
| North Dakota | 70 | $60,170 | $56,710 | $28.93 |
| Washington | 430 | $58,580 | $57,160 | $28.17 |
| Idaho | 120 | $57,690 | $55,990 | $27.74 |
| Wisconsin | 210 | $56,140 | $54,540 | $26.99 |
| Colorado | 100 | $55,770 | $55,420 | $26.81 |
| Massachusetts | 120 | $53,300 | $56,400 | $25.63 |
| Montana | 100 | $53,250 | $49,250 | $25.60 |
| Vermont | 50 | $52,560 | $51,200 | $25.27 |
| New Jersey | 300 | $52,440 | $54,490 | $25.21 |
| Georgia | 870 | $50,820 | $52,890 | $24.43 |
| Oregon | 540 | $50,820 | $53,970 | $24.44 |
| Alabama | 1,090 | $50,600 | $54,500 | $24.33 |
| Virginia | 260 | $49,650 | $52,050 | $23.87 |
| Pennsylvania | 410 | $49,610 | $52,260 | $23.85 |
| Missouri | 270 | $49,470 | $51,540 | $23.78 |
| New York | 490 | $49,280 | $54,510 | $23.69 |
| New Hampshire | 60 | $49,250 | $52,330 | $23.68 |
| Indiana | 650 | $48,770 | $53,890 | $23.45 |
| South Dakota | 40 | $48,200 | $52,150 | $23.17 |
| South Carolina | 300 | $48,170 | $48,210 | $23.16 |
| Maine | 70 | $48,060 | $52,480 | $23.11 |
| Louisiana | 120 | $47,820 | $50,970 | $22.99 |
| Michigan | 420 | $47,410 | $47,900 | $22.79 |
| Minnesota | 100 | $47,210 | $53,420 | $22.70 |
| Ohio | 1,580 | $46,190 | $48,170 | $22.21 |
| Iowa | 100 | $45,910 | $48,150 | $22.07 |
| West Virginia | 80 | $45,690 | $47,760 | $21.97 |
| Utah | 130 | $45,610 | $49,100 | $21.93 |
| California | 900 | $45,300 | $47,960 | $21.78 |
| Texas | 780 | $45,040 | $49,190 | $21.66 |
| Tennessee | 640 | $44,710 | $46,800 | $21.49 |
| Arizona | 140 | $44,530 | $43,630 | $21.41 |
| Mississippi | 370 | $44,370 | $43,460 | $21.33 |
| Arkansas | 150 | $43,560 | $47,160 | $20.94 |
| Oklahoma | 370 | $42,970 | $43,390 | $20.66 |
| Florida | 350 | $42,400 | $43,930 | $20.39 |
| Nebraska | 100 | $41,650 | $42,950 | $20.02 |
| North Carolina | 530 | $39,310 | $40,570 | $18.90 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,250 a year
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,220 a year
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers$48,110 a year
- Medical Appliance Technicians$48,030 a year
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920 a year
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,720 a year
Common questions
How much do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders earn in the United States?
The median pay was $48,040 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,960 and the highest-paid 10% more than $69,800.
How many people work as Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders?
About 14,280 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.