What is a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator or Tender?
Example of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Job 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.
Daily Life Of a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator
- Clean, lubricate, and adjust equipment, using scrapers, solvents, air hoses, oil, and hand tools.
- Load equipment receptacles or conveyors with material to be processed, by hand or using hoists.
- Monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.
- Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
- Melt or refine metal before casting, calculating required temperatures, and observe metal color, adjusting controls as necessary to maintain required temperatures.
- Feed fuel, such as coal and coke, into fireboxes or onto conveyors, and remove ashes from furnaces, using shovels and buckets.
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Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator Needed Skills
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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 or Tender
- Tail Burner
- Utility Operator
- Stoker
- Briquetting Machine Operator
- Lumber Kiln Operator
Job Opportunities 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. The BLS estimates 2,000 yearly job openings in this field.

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 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?
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 to Become a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, or Kettle Operator
Education 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?

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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