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.

Also called: Annealing Operator, Dry Kiln Operator, Dryer Feeder, Evaporator Operator, Furnace Operator, Kiln Fireman, Kiln Operator, Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator, Oven Operator, Ager Operator, Annealer, Autoclave Operator, Automated Process Operator, Back Tender, Backing-in Machine Tender, Ballman, Base Draw Operator, Batch and Furnace Operator, Beehive Kiln Charcoal Burner, Black Ash Burner Operator, Black Mill Operator, Boiler, Boiler Attendant, Boiler Control Room Operator, Bone Char Kiln Tender, Bone Drier Operator, Bread Oven Operator, Brick Baker, Brick Burner, Briquetting Machine Operator, Burner, Burner Tender, Burning Plant Operator, Calcine Furnace Tender, Calciner Operator, Carbon Furnace Operator, Centrifugal Drier Operator, Channel Process Plant Operator, Charcoal Burner, Charcoal Kiln Burner, Clay Burner, Clay Roaster, Cloth Drier, Clothespin Drier Operator, Coal Drier Operator, Coke Burner, Coke Production Heater, Conditioner Tumbler Operator, Continuous Linter-Drier Operator, Cooker Tender, Core Oven Tender, Cupola Man, Cupola Worker, Curing Oven Attendant, Curing Oven Tender, Debubblizer, Drier, Drier Feeder, Drier Operator, Drier Tender, Drum Drier Operator, Dry Box Operator, Dry Mill Operator, Dry Room Operator, Dry-Cans Operator, Dry-House Attendant, Drying Machine Tender, Drying Room Attendant, Drying Tumbler Operator, Drying Tunnel Operator, Drying Unit Felting Machine Operator, Enamel Burner, Firepot Operator and Tender, Firer, Flame Degreaser, Flash Drier Operator, Flat Drier, Flow Worker, Foam Rubber Curer, Furnace Operator and Tender, Glass Furnace Tender, Glazing Machine Operator, Glost Kiln Operator, Glue Cook, Hair Boiler Operator, Heater, Heater Tender, Impregnator and Drier, Incinerator Operator, Induction Furnace Operator, Insulation Board Back Tender, Insulation Cupola Operator, Insulation Processor, Kettle Coordinator, Kettle Operator, Kettle Tender, Kettle Worker, Kiln Burner, Kiln Charger, Kiln Firer, Kiln Stoker, Kiln Tender, Label Drier, Lehr Attendant, Lehr Loader, Lehr Operator, Lehr Tender, Lens Hardener, Lime Burner, Lime Kiln Operator, Lime Kiln Tender, Lime Sludge Kiln Operator, Limehouse Worker, Log Cooker, Lumber Kiln Operator, Matrix Drier Tender, Mold Burner, Mud Temperer, Nitrate Processor, Nodulizer, Oil Boiler, Oven Baker, Oven Press Tender, Oven Tender, Oxide Furnace Tender, Oxygen Furnace Operator, Package Yarns Drying Machine Operator, Pad Extractor Tender, Pelletizer, Petroleum Operator, Petroleum Refining Firer, Pigment Furnace Tender, Plastics Seasoner Operator, Polymerization Oven Operator, Pot Fireman, Pot Firer, Pot Tender, Pottery and Porcelain Kiln Firer, Pressure Tank Operator, Primer Expeditor and Drier, Pulp Cooker, Pulp Drier Firer, Rabble Furnace Tender, Raw Stock Drier Tender, Red-Lead Burner, Reduction Furnace Operator, Reel Blade Bender Furnace Tender, Regenerator Operator, Rivet Heater, Rotary Drier Operator, Rotary Furnace Tender, Rotary Kiln Operator, Rubber Curer, Rubber Tire Curer, Rubber Vulcanizing Machine Operator, Rug Dry Room Attendant, Rug Drying Machine Operator, Salt Boiler, Sand Drier, Shift Operator, Shrink Pit Operator, Skein Yarn Drier, Soap Boiler, Soap Drier Operator, Soap Drier Tender, Soap Maker, Spray Drier Operator, Standpipe Tender, Starch Cooker, Steam Box Operator, Steam Tank Operator, Sterilizer, Sterilizer Machine Operator, Still Operator, Stoker, Stone Carriage Operator, Tail Burner, Teaser, Temperer, Tenter Frame Operator, Thaw Shed Heater Tender, Tile Burner, Tray Drier, Tray Drier Operator, Treating Engineer, Treating Plant Operator, Tube Lancer, Tumbler, Tumbler Operator, Tumbler Tender, Tunnel Kiln Firer, Tunnel Kiln Operator, Tunnel Operator, Unit Operator, Utility Operator, Vacuum Drier Operator, Vacuum Drier Tender, Vacuum Furnace Operator, Varnish Maker, Varnish Melter, Veneer Drier, Veneer Redrier, Vulcanizer, Vulcanizing Machine Operator, Wire Drawer Operator, Woodworking Kiln Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Writing
Coordination
Active Learning
Complex Problem Solving

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (55.94% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

41,130–59,830 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9051.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (55.94% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders