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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

51-9051 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.


National estimates for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Industry profile for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Geographic profile for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

National estimates for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
14,820 3.1 % $ 22.86 $ 47,540 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 16.55 $ 18.37 $ 21.94 $ 26.28 $ 30.45
Annual Wage (2) $ 34,430 $ 38,200 $ 45,640 $ 54,660 $ 63,340


Industry profile for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing 4,760 1.14 $ 22.98 $ 47,790
Sawmills and Wood Preservation 1,410 1.53 $ 21.24 $ 44,180
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing 1,050 1.25 $ 21.14 $ 43,980
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 680 0.69 $ 25.59 $ 53,220
Rubber Product Manufacturing 630 0.46 $ 25.42 $ 52,870

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sawmills and Wood Preservation 1,410 1.53 $ 21.24 $ 44,180
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing 1,050 1.25 $ 21.14 $ 43,980
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing 4,760 1.14 $ 22.98 $ 47,790
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 680 0.69 $ 25.59 $ 53,220
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 390 0.63 $ 23.40 $ 48,670

Top paying industries for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) (8) (8) $ 43.27 $ 90,000
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 90 0.02 $ 33.05 $ 68,740
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills 250 0.28 $ 30.96 $ 64,400
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 550 0.51 $ 28.87 $ 60,050
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services 40 0.02 $ 26.32 $ 54,740


Geographic profile for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 910 0.07 0.69 $ 20.69 $ 43,030
Ohio 870 0.16 1.63 $ 23.54 $ 48,970
Alabama 690 0.34 3.44 $ 22.99 $ 47,830
Washington 680 0.20 2.01 $ 24.53 $ 51,020
Indiana 680 0.22 2.21 $ 20.04 $ 41,680


Map of location quotient of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Mississippi 460 0.40 4.10 $ 20.16 $ 41,930
Alabama 690 0.34 3.44 $ 22.99 $ 47,830
West Virginia 210 0.30 3.10 $ 21.41 $ 44,540
Montana 130 0.25 2.60 $ 17.74 $ 36,890
Arkansas 300 0.24 2.41 $ 21.53 $ 44,790


Map of annual mean wages of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Wyoming 50 0.18 1.88 $ 32.07 $ 66,700
New Jersey 310 0.07 0.75 $ 27.70 $ 57,610
Massachusetts 180 0.05 0.52 $ 26.17 $ 54,440
Minnesota 110 0.04 0.41 $ 26.10 $ 54,290
New York 590 0.06 0.64 $ 26.08 $ 54,250



Map of employment of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 380 0.08 0.86 $ 24.47 $ 50,900
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 300 0.08 0.77 $ 22.18 $ 46,140
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 270 0.03 0.29 $ 27.99 $ 58,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 260 0.13 1.29 $ 25.25 $ 52,520
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 200 0.15 1.54 $ 22.30 $ 46,380
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 200 0.09 0.88 $ 19.75 $ 41,080
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 180 0.17 1.74 $ 19.35 $ 40,250
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 180 0.36 3.69 $ 24.64 $ 51,240
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 180 0.03 0.30 $ 22.03 $ 45,820
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 160 0.08 0.85 $ 24.47 $ 50,900


Map of location quotient of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ 60 0.95 9.74 $ 25.37 $ 52,770
Longview, WA 40 0.85 8.75 $ 31.86 $ 66,280
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 110 0.70 7.16 $ 22.19 $ 46,140
Tuscaloosa, AL 70 0.65 6.66 $ 25.18 $ 52,370
Macon, GA 50 0.55 5.63 $ 23.40 $ 48,680
Florence, SC 40 0.46 4.74 $ 20.49 $ 42,610
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 60 0.41 4.20 $ 20.91 $ 43,480
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 180 0.36 3.69 $ 24.64 $ 51,240
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 40 0.35 3.58 $ 23.99 $ 49,890
Toledo, OH 90 0.32 3.26 $ 25.75 $ 53,550


Map of annual mean wages of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 60 0.03 0.26 $ 33.90 $ 70,520
Longview, WA 40 0.85 8.75 $ 31.86 $ 66,280
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 50 0.12 1.23 $ 31.30 $ 65,110
Duluth, MN-WI 30 0.26 2.63 $ 31.15 $ 64,790
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 270 0.03 0.29 $ 27.99 $ 58,220
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 90 0.03 0.32 $ 26.28 $ 54,660
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 70 0.02 0.25 $ 26.06 $ 54,200
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 30 0.02 0.23 $ 25.99 $ 54,050
Savannah, GA 30 0.18 1.83 $ 25.89 $ 53,840
Toledo, OH 90 0.32 3.26 $ 25.75 $ 53,550

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 220 1.69 17.36 $ 24.42 $ 50,790
Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area 160 1.61 16.52 $ 26.45 $ 55,020
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 160 0.41 4.20 $ 20.93 $ 43,530
Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 150 1.01 10.35 $ 18.65 $ 38,780
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 140 0.81 8.32 $ 22.11 $ 45,980

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 220 1.69 17.36 $ 24.42 $ 50,790
Lower Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 90 1.68 17.24 $ 22.51 $ 46,820
Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area 160 1.61 16.52 $ 26.45 $ 55,020
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area 90 1.35 13.80 $ 22.10 $ 45,970
Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 150 1.01 10.35 $ 18.65 $ 38,780

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 70 0.87 8.96 $ 26.47 $ 55,050
Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area 160 1.61 16.52 $ 26.45 $ 55,020
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 100 0.63 6.50 $ 25.49 $ 53,020
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 50 0.39 3.98 $ 25.48 $ 53,000
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area 100 0.59 6.05 $ 25.04 $ 52,070


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024