Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders work in specialized production roles that combine hands-on activity with monitoring and control of equipment. National employment stands at 16,000 workers, indicating a focused but established occupation. The national median annual salary of $47,010 shows that these roles offer solid earning potential for people interested in production work. Projected employment growth of 3.0% and 2,000 annual openings suggest a continuing flow of job opportunities over time. This career can fit individuals who bring physical strength and stamina, mechanical aptitude, and attention to detail, along with strong speaking, listening, and reading skills to follow procedures and communicate on the job. The role may also appeal to people who enjoy using critical and analytical thinking, basic science and mathematics, and some leadership in a production environment. With a typical education of a high school diploma or equivalent, this path can be accessible to students, early-career workers, and career changers looking for stable, skill-based work.
The national median annual salary for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders is $47,010. Pay can vary by location, and several states and metro areas stand out. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $58,580, and Colorado follows with $55,770, both notably above the national median. Massachusetts and New York also exceed the national median at $53,300 and $49,280, while California’s median of $45,300 is slightly below the national figure. At the metro level, Washington’s higher state median is reflected in strong options elsewhere, but within the highlighted metros, Washington is not listed, while Colorado appears at the state level only. The top metros show a range from $38,900 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA to $52,830 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. This variation suggests that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential within the occupation.
Nationally, furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders account for 16,000 jobs. Projected employment growth of 3.0% indicates that overall employment is expected to increase over time. With 2,000 annual openings, there is a steady volume of opportunities each year for new entrants and experienced workers. The 3.0% growth rate appears consistently across the top states and metro areas listed, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and all highlighted metropolitan regions. This consistency suggests that the projected growth is broadly shared rather than concentrated in only a few locations. For job seekers, the combination of an established employment base, ongoing openings, and positive projected growth can make this a viable option to consider, whether they are starting out or looking to transition from another production-related role. People comparing occupations can also view similar options such as welding, soldering, and brazing machine operators or structural metal fabricators and fitters.
Location can make a meaningful difference for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders, both in pay and in CareerGPS opportunity score. Among states, California has the highest opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $45,300 and employment of 900. Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington also rank highly by opportunity score, with Washington offering the highest listed state median salary at $58,580 and employment of 430. Colorado’s median of $55,770 and Massachusetts’s $53,300 show additional higher-paying state options, even though their employment levels are smaller than California’s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out, both with opportunity scores above 77. Median salaries in these top metros range from $48,130 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH to $52,830 in San Jose. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA shows a lower median salary of $38,900 but higher employment at 380, illustrating a tradeoff between pay and job count in some markets.
The typical education for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who may not be pursuing a four-year college degree but still want a role that builds technical and practical abilities. Success in this field draws on a broad mix of skills. Physical strength and stamina support the more demanding aspects of the work, while fine motor skills and being detail oriented help with accuracy and consistency. Mechanical skills are important for working with equipment, and basic science and mathematics support understanding and using process-related information. Strong writing and reading skills help with following instructions and documenting work, and speaking and listening skills are valuable for communicating with supervisors and coworkers. Critical and analytical thinking, along with leadership skills, can help workers solve problems and coordinate activities, potentially preparing them for advanced or supervisory roles over time within production environments.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
