Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
What Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Do
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.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 1.5%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Mechanicalimportance 3.5/5
- Production and Processingimportance 3.2/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.1/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.0/5
- English Languageimportance 2.8/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 2.8/5
- Mathematicsimportance 2.7/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 2.6/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.6/5
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.6/5
- Exposed to Contaminants4.5/5
- Health and Safety of Other Workers4.4/5
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled4.4/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Tire Builders96% skill match
- Locomotive Engineers96% skill match
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders94% skill match
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders94% skill match
- Bridge and Lock Tenders94% skill match
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers94% skill match
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers93% skill match
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders93% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.9/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.0/5
- Coordinationimportance 2.5/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 2.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 2.4/5
- Time Managementimportance 2.4/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.3/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Inventory tracking software
- Machine operation software
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
- Achievement Orientation
- Integrity
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Longview-Kelso, WA17.11× national avg
- 2Clarksville, TN-KY11.32× national avg
- 3Vineland, NJ10.58× national avg
- 4Tuscaloosa, AL9.84× national avg
- 5Eugene-Springfield, OR8.22× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move
- Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move
See the full career path from Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders →