Find Trade Colleges

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

What Do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender Do?

Job Description: 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.

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

  • Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
  • Direct crane operators and crew members to load vessels with materials to be processed.
  • Load equipment receptacles or conveyors with material to be processed, by hand or using hoists.
  • Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
  • Feed fuel, such as coal and coke, into fireboxes or onto conveyors, and remove ashes from furnaces, using shovels and buckets.
  • Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders say are important on the job.

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.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

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

  • Backing-in Machine Tender
  • Black Mill Operator
  • Core Oven Tender
  • Burner
  • Dry Box Operator

Are There Job Opportunities for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 21,900 jobs in the United States for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender. There will be an estimated 2,000 positions for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator per year.

undefined

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

The typical yearly salary for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is somewhere between $25,950 and $58,890.

undefined

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

How much do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make in each U.S. state?

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

Tools & Technologies Used by Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

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

How to Become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator

What education is needed to be a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender?

undefined

How Long Does it Take to Become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator?

undefined

References:

Image Credit: via

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.