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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.
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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.
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.
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?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator?
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.