Production
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Also called: Annealing Operator, Dry Kiln Operator, Dryer Feeder, Evaporator Operator
US median pay
$48,040
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.6%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,800
14,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.
- Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
- Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
- Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
- Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
- Examine or test samples of processed substances, or collect samples for laboratory testing, to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Transport materials and products to and from work areas, manually or using carts, handtrucks, or hoists.
- Stop equipment and clear blockages or jams, using fingers, wire, or hand tools.
- Load equipment receptacles or conveyors with material to be processed, by hand or using hoists.
- Remove products from equipment, manually or using hoists, and prepare them for storage, shipment, or additional processing.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.9/5
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Coordination2.5/5
- Time Management2.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.4/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.2/5
Knowledge
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Public Safety and Security3.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.0/5
- English Language2.8/5
- Education and Training2.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma56%
- Less than high school21%
- Post-secondary certificate16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.