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Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender

Life As a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Example 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.

A Day in the Life of a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator

  • Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
  • Melt or refine metal before casting, calculating required temperatures, and observe metal color, adjusting controls as necessary to maintain required temperatures.
  • Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
  • Replace worn or defective equipment parts, using hand tools.
  • Examine or test samples of processed substances, or collect samples for laboratory testing, to ensure conformance to specifications.
  • Calculate amounts of materials to be loaded into furnaces, adjusting amounts as necessary for specific conditions.

What Every Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Should Know

When polled, Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Types of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Jobs

  • Cupola Man
  • Core Oven Tender
  • Oven Operator
  • Drier Tender
  • Kiln Charger

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

In the United States, there were 21,900 jobs for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,000 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator are Utah, Florida, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Montana, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make between $25,950 and $58,890 a year.

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Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders who work in West Virginia, Maryland, or Michigan, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $47,750
Arizona $35,210
Arkansas $42,290
California $39,730
Colorado $40,110
Connecticut $36,050
Florida $30,400
Georgia $39,740
Idaho $41,550
Illinois $38,880
Indiana $42,700
Iowa $41,550
Kansas $40,450
Kentucky $39,840
Louisiana $39,790
Maine $43,640
Maryland $48,310
Massachusetts $44,430
Michigan $45,960
Minnesota $43,590
Mississippi $34,500
Missouri $38,840
Montana $40,590
Nebraska $44,650
Nevada $46,020
New Hampshire $42,200
New Jersey $41,570
New York $43,210
North Carolina $40,350
Ohio $36,060
Oklahoma $39,520
Oregon $41,730
Pennsylvania $41,890
South Carolina $39,200
South Dakota $35,990
Tennessee $38,800
Texas $40,360
Utah $49,360
Virginia $36,640
Washington $43,210
West Virginia $45,470
Wisconsin $36,300
Wyoming $44,960

What Tools do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Data entry software
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Machine operation software

Becoming a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator

Education needed to be a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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

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Below are examples of industries where Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders work:

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References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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