Highest-paying states for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

Maryland leads at $77,440 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.

Place	Median	25th–75th
Maryland	$77,440	$39,920–$77,470
Kentucky	$75,620	$61,220–$81,850
Illinois	$62,870	$45,830–$67,130
Kansas	$62,350	$50,330–$73,100
Wyoming	$62,130	$59,810–$76,950
North Dakota	$60,170	$47,400–$62,280
Washington	$58,580	$47,920–$63,130
Idaho	$57,690	$50,120–$59,260
Wisconsin	$56,140	$48,510–$57,910
Colorado	$55,770	$47,570–$63,300
Massachusetts	$53,300	$44,310–$68,710
Montana	$53,250	$29,880–$60,540
Vermont	$52,560	$38,390–$60,310
New Jersey	$52,440	$42,000–$64,330
Georgia	$50,820	$42,320–$65,310
Oregon	$50,820	$48,320–$60,650
Alabama	$50,600	$46,240–$62,790
Virginia	$49,650	$39,810–$59,820
Pennsylvania	$49,610	$46,920–$58,460
Missouri	$49,470	$43,960–$59,830
New York	$49,280	$44,610–$61,330
New Hampshire	$49,250	$46,460–$59,790
Indiana	$48,770	$44,650–$66,020
South Dakota	$48,200	$42,440–$65,510
South Carolina	$48,170	$41,520–$54,330
Maine	$48,060	$44,920–$61,540
Louisiana	$47,820	$45,940–$51,640
Michigan	$47,410	$35,250–$61,350
Minnesota	$47,210	$43,410–$61,450
Ohio	$46,190	$38,210–$55,730
Iowa	$45,910	$40,960–$54,210
West Virginia	$45,690	$36,960–$57,720
Utah	$45,610	$37,280–$59,250
California	$45,300	$37,440–$54,910
Texas	$45,040	$39,520–$55,590
Tennessee	$44,710	$42,640–$49,180
Arizona	$44,530	$40,190–$46,920
Mississippi	$44,370	$37,440–$48,220
Arkansas	$43,560	$38,230–$53,180
Oklahoma	$42,970	$35,560–$47,760
Florida	$42,400	$35,590–$47,530
Nebraska	$41,650	$30,770–$50,900
North Carolina	$39,310	$31,160–$47,900

Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.