Careers / Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$48,040
United States, 2025
Employment
14,280
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 51-9051.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$35,960
25th percentile
$41,130
75th percentile
$59,830
90th percentile
$69,800
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Writing2.6
- Coordination2.5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4
- Complex Problem Solving2.4
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 8 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
8
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $81,840 | 70 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | $81,530 | 40 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $77,440 | 70 | 2025 |
| MD | $77,440 | 100 | 2025 |
| KY | $75,620 | 240 | 2025 |
| Longview, WA | $69,070 | 60 | 2025 |
| Savannah, GA | $66,390 | 40 | 2025 |
| Vineland, NJ | $62,910 | 60 | 2025 |
| IL | $62,870 | 230 | 2025 |
| KS | $62,350 | 210 | 2025 |
| WY | $62,130 | 50 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $61,500 | 50 | 2025 |
| ND | $60,170 | 70 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $60,160 | 150 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $58,670 | 140 | 2025 |
| WA | $58,580 | 430 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $58,460 | 80 | 2025 |
| ID | $57,690 | 120 | 2025 |
| Wichita, KS | $57,650 | 50 | 2025 |
| Montgomery, AL | $57,240 | 70 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.