Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
14,180	2.5 %	$ 21.11	$ 43,910	0.7 %

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

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Hourly Wage	$ 14.09	$ 17.34	$ 21.01	$ 23.65	$ 29.15
Annual Wage (2)	$ 29,310	$ 36,070	$ 43,710	$ 49,200	$ 60,640

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	5,230	1.31	$ 20.85	$ 43,370
Sawmills and Wood Preservation	980	1.11	$ 19.50	$ 40,550
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing	950	1.17	$ 20.12	$ 41,860
Rubber Product Manufacturing	630	0.49	$ 23.04	$ 47,910
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	580	0.56	$ 29.32	$ 60,980

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)
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing	5,230	1.31	$ 20.85	$ 43,370
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing	950	1.17	$ 20.12	$ 41,860
Sawmills and Wood Preservation	980	1.11	$ 19.50	$ 40,550
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	580	0.56	$ 29.32	$ 60,980
Rubber Product Manufacturing	630	0.49	$ 23.04	$ 47,910

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)
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills	210	0.24	$ 29.32	$ 60,980
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	580	0.56	$ 29.32	$ 60,980
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation)	30	(7)	$ 28.11	$ 58,470
Metal Ore Mining	140	0.35	$ 26.76	$ 55,660
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	50	0.02	$ 26.51	$ 55,150

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 2021

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)
Ohio	1,140	0.22	2.17	$ 21.16	$ 44,010
California	930	0.06	0.56	$ 20.60	$ 42,850
Tennessee	860	0.29	2.88	$ 20.15	$ 41,920
Michigan	760	0.19	1.86	$ 22.45	$ 46,690
Indiana	680	0.23	2.26	$ 21.43	$ 44,580

Map of location quotient of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by state, May 2021

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)
West Virginia	230	0.35	3.53	$ 18.65	$ 38,790
Alabama	630	0.33	3.24	$ 21.03	$ 43,730
Tennessee	860	0.29	2.88	$ 20.15	$ 41,920
Vermont	70	0.25	2.51	$ 14.55	$ 30,260
Oklahoma	360	0.23	2.30	$ 18.95	$ 39,410

Map of annual mean wages of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by state, May 2021

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	60	0.22	2.15	$ 30.15	$ 62,710
New Jersey	340	0.09	0.87	$ 25.98	$ 54,040
Montana	30	0.07	0.67	$ 25.39	$ 52,820
Illinois	270	0.05	0.49	$ 25.35	$ 52,730
Arizona	80	0.03	0.29	$ 23.94	$ 49,800

Map of employment of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by area, May 2021

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	350	0.08	0.81	$ 24.46	$ 50,870
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	310	0.04	0.35	$ 26.16	$ 54,410
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	290	0.05	0.50	$ 18.97	$ 39,460
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	260	0.21	2.09	$ 18.33	$ 38,130
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	240	0.13	1.33	$ 26.55	$ 55,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	200	0.10	1.03	$ 23.54	$ 48,970
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	170	0.15	1.50	$ 22.00	$ 45,750
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	170	0.35	3.46	$ 21.86	$ 45,460
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	160	0.16	1.61	$ 19.61	$ 40,780
Tulsa, OK	160	0.37	3.71	$ 21.17	$ 44,030

Map of location quotient of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by area, May 2021

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)
Albany, OR	40	1.00	9.96	$ 21.55	$ 44,830
Tuscaloosa, AL	90	0.98	9.73	$ 21.36	$ 44,430
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ	50	0.92	9.12	$ 24.51	$ 50,970
Longview, WA	30	0.86	8.57	$ 28.43	$ 59,140
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	70	0.54	5.33	$ 18.85	$ 39,210
Worcester, MA-CT	130	0.47	4.70	$ 21.44	$ 44,590
Eugene, OR	60	0.40	3.99	$ 23.26	$ 48,370
Toledo, OH	110	0.39	3.92	$ 22.08	$ 45,920
Tulsa, OK	160	0.37	3.71	$ 21.17	$ 44,030
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	170	0.35	3.46	$ 21.86	$ 45,460

Map of annual mean wages of furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders by area, May 2021

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)
St. Louis, MO-IL	100	0.08	0.75	$ 29.14	$ 60,610
Longview, WA	30	0.86	8.57	$ 28.43	$ 59,140
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	240	0.13	1.33	$ 26.55	$ 55,220
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	310	0.04	0.35	$ 26.16	$ 54,410
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	100	0.04	0.37	$ 25.88	$ 53,820
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	150	0.30	3.02	$ 25.01	$ 52,020
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	40	0.02	0.20	$ 24.97	$ 51,930
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	40	0.32	3.18	$ 24.86	$ 51,710
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ	50	0.92	9.12	$ 24.51	$ 50,970
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	350	0.08	0.81	$ 24.46	$ 50,870

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	190	1.58	15.68	$ 22.01	$ 45,770
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area	150	0.80	7.91	$ 18.21	$ 37,870
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area	140	1.27	12.59	$ 22.30	$ 46,370
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)	130	0.43	4.25	$ 22.23	$ 46,230
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	120	0.47	4.66	$ 14.13	$ 29,400

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	190	1.58	15.68	$ 22.01	$ 45,770
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area	140	1.27	12.59	$ 22.30	$ 46,370
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area	70	1.16	11.54	$ 18.39	$ 38,250
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area	110	0.84	8.34	$ 18.43	$ 38,330
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area	150	0.80	7.91	$ 18.21	$ 37,870

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)
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area	30	0.35	3.52	$ 33.22	$ 69,090
Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area	40	0.45	4.52	$ 26.17	$ 54,440
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area	40	0.63	6.29	$ 24.94	$ 51,880
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area	70	0.46	4.59	$ 24.73	$ 51,440
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area	80	0.46	4.59	$ 24.65	$ 51,260

About May 2021 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.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022