All About Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Occupation 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.
What Do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Do On a Daily Basis?
- Stop equipment and clear blockages or jams, using fingers, wire, or hand tools.
- 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.
- Remove products from equipment, manually or using hoists, and prepare them for storage, shipment, or additional processing.
- Clean, lubricate, and adjust equipment, using scrapers, solvents, air hoses, oil, and hand tools.
- Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
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Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Required Skills
These are the skills Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Clay Burner
- Lumber Kiln Operator
- Channel Process Plant Operator
- Thaw Shed Heater Tender
- Rubber Curer
Is There Going to be Demand for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders?
There were about 21,900 jobs for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make between $25,950 and $58,890 a year.

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 |
What Tools & Technology do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Inventory tracking software
- Machine operation software
How do I Become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator?
Learn what Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender education requirements there are.

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

Who Employs Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders?

The table below shows the approximate number of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders employed by various industries.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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