# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furnace-kiln-oven-drier-and-kettle-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-9051.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $48,040 (10th percentile $35,960, 90th percentile $69,800)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.6%
- Openings a year: 1,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 97 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 5 |
| Enterprising (E) | 3 |
| Conventional (C) | 56 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 84/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 82/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)
- Getting Information (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 73/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Quality Control Analysis, Writing, Coordination

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Production and Processing, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Education and Training, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Chemistry

## Also called

Ager Operator, Annealer, Annealing Operator, Autoclave Operator, Automated Process Operator, Back Tender, Backing-in Machine Tender, Ballman, Base Draw Operator, Batch and Furnace Operator

## Related careers

- [Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/separating-filtering-clarifying-precipitating-and-still-machine-setters-operators-and): $51,610 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay
- [Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/metal-refining-furnace-operators-and-tenders): $54,430 median pay
- [Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heat-treating-equipment-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $48,750 median pay
- [Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaning-washing-and-metal-pickling-equipment-operators-and-tenders): $43,530 median pay
- [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/machine-feeders-and-offbearers): $41,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.