All careers › Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Kiln operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $35,960lowest 10% earn less
- $41,13025th percentile
- $48,040median
- $59,83075th percentile
- $69,800top 10% earn more
A kiln operator, listed by BLS as a furnace, kiln, oven, drier or kettle operator or tender, had a median pay of $48,040 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, which is slower than the rate for all occupations[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.6%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,800[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do kiln operators make?
The median wage for furnace, kiln, oven, drier and kettle operators and tenders was $48,040 a year, or $23.10 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $50,940 a year, or $24.49 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980, so the median here sits a little below it[5][1].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,960 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $41,130[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $59,830, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $69,800[4]. BLS explains that a percentile is a boundary and that it does not publish a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4][10] | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| 25th percentile[4][10] | $41,130 | $19.77 |
| Median[1] | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 75th percentile[4][10] | $59,830 | $28.77 |
| 90th percentile[4][10] | $69,800 | $33.56 |
These wages cover part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].
Pay by state and city
Maryland had the highest median annual wage at $77,440, followed by Kentucky at $75,620 and Illinois at $62,870[12]. North Carolina had the lowest published median at $39,310[12]. Some states have small counts, so a state median may rest on only a few dozen jobs[12].
Ohio had the most jobs at 1,580, followed by Alabama at 1,090 and California at 900[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $60,160, followed by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $58,670[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most metro jobs, 380, with a median of $38,900[15].
Show median pay in 43 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland[12] | $77,440 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $75,620 | 240 |
| Illinois | $62,870 | 230 |
| Kansas | $62,350 | 210 |
| Wyoming | $62,130 | 50 |
| North Dakota | $60,170 | 70 |
| Washington | $58,580 | 430 |
| Idaho | $57,690 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $56,140 | 210 |
| Colorado | $55,770 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $53,300 | 120 |
| Montana | $53,250 | 100 |
| Vermont | $52,560 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $52,440 | 300 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | 870 |
| Oregon | $50,820 | 540 |
| Alabama | $50,600 | 1,090 |
| Virginia | $49,650 | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,610 | 410 |
| Missouri | $49,470 | 270 |
| New York | $49,280 | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $49,250 | 60 |
| Indiana | $48,770 | 650 |
| South Dakota | $48,200 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $48,170 | 300 |
| Maine | $48,060 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $47,820 | 120 |
| Michigan | $47,410 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $47,210 | 100 |
| Ohio | $46,190 | 1,580 |
| Iowa | $45,910 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $45,690 | 80 |
| Utah | $45,610 | 130 |
| California | $45,300 | 900 |
| Texas | $45,040 | 780 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | 640 |
| Arizona | $44,530 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $44,370 | 370 |
| Arkansas | $43,560 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $42,970 | 370 |
| Florida | $42,400 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $41,650 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $39,310 | 530 |
How to become a kiln operator
- First: finish high school. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry[7].
- Next: expect to learn on the job. BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical, and moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
In an ONET survey of 28 workers, 56% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 21% said less than a high school diploma, and 16% said a post-secondary certificate[16]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which covers jobs needing very little to some preparation[17]. Our facts do not say how long the training takes or whether a license is needed.
What kiln operators do
These workers run or tend heating equipment, such as for annealing glass, drying lumber, curing rubber or boiling soap[18]. Typical tasks reported to O*NET include:
- Watching gauges, panel lights and equipment for readings that stray from standards[19].
- Reporting malfunctions and production problems to supervisors or other operators[19].
- Setting and adjusting controls to match specifications[19].
- Writing gauge readings, test results and shift output in log books[19].
- Reading work orders to learn assignments and schedules[19].
- Testing or collecting samples to check that products meet specifications[19].
- Loading material into equipment and removing finished products by hand or with hoists[19].
- Clearing jams and blockages[19].
Workers use job titles such as Dry Kiln Operator, Furnace Operator and Annealing Operator[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects that employment will grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,500 to 14,900 jobs, a gain of 400[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. Only 1.8% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[21].
About 1,800 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.1% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 7.7% to move to a different occupation[22].
OEWS counted about 14,280 wage and salary workers in May 2025[23]. That survey does not cover the self-employed, while the projection counts do[23][2].
Is it a good fit?
The facts point to an occupation that typically asks for a high school diploma and on-the-job training, with no related work experience[7]. The median pay is a little below the all-occupations median, and it ranges from $35,960 at the 10th percentile to $69,800 at the 90th[1][5][4]. Growth is projected to be slower than for all occupations[2][3]. The work centers on watching equipment, adjusting controls and recording readings[19].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a kiln operator make an hour?
- The median wage was $23.10 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $17.29 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $33.56[10].
- What education do you need to be a kiln operator?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry, with moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in the US was $48,040 per year and $23.10 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,500 to 14,900 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $35,960, 25th percentile $41,130, 75th percentile $59,830, 90th percentile $69,800. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,800 openings for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders was $50,940 per year and $24.49 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $17.29, 25th percentile $19.77, 75th percentile $28.77, 90th percentile $33.56. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders jobs: Ohio 1,580; Alabama 1,090; California 900; Georgia 870; Texas 780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $60,160; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $58,670; Birmingham, AL $57,220; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $55,470; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $53,090; Toledo, OH $50,960; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $49,170; Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $49,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 380 (median $38,900); Birmingham, AL 290 (median $57,220); Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 270 (median $46,680); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 270 (median $49,170); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 250 (median $45,170); Cleveland, OH 230 (median $46,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-9051.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 56%, Less than a High School Diploma 21%, Post-Secondary Certificate 16% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9051.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Annealing Operator, Dry Kiln Operator, Dryer Feeder, Evaporator Operator, Furnace Operator, Kiln Fireman, Kiln Operator, Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: 1.8% of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders: 4.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 14,280 people were employed as Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.