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Skilled Trades

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$48,040

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$36k – $70k

Job outlook

+3% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $35,960

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

    Established

    $48,040

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

    Senior

    $58,920

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.
  • •Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
  • •Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
  • •Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
  • •Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.