How to become a 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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.
What furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders do
- Transport materials and products to and from work areas, manually or using carts, handtrucks, or 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.
- Examine or test samples of processed substances, or collect samples for laboratory testing, to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
- Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
Is furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 6% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.