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

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary in California

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in California earn a median annual wage of $45,300 —5.7% below the national median of $48,040. That ranks CA #34 of 43 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$45,300
Median hourly
$21.78
Entry level (P10)
$36,430
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$64,460
90th percentile
Employment
900
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-5.7%
U.S. $48,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,430
$37,440
$45,300
$54,910
$36,430$45,300$64,460
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $45,300.

Employment is only 0.54× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

All 43 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Maryland$77,440$37.231000.38
2Kentucky$75,620$36.362401.32
3Illinois$62,870$30.232300.41
4Kansas$62,350$29.982101.56
5Wyoming$62,130$29.87501.87
6North Dakota$60,170$28.93701.66
7Washington$58,580$28.174301.31
8Idaho$57,690$27.741201.49
9Wisconsin$56,140$26.992100.77
10Colorado$55,770$26.811000.36

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in California?

The median annual wage for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders in California is $45,300, or $21.78 per hour. That is 5.7% below the national median of $48,040.

What is the entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,430 per year ($17.52/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,440.

How many people work as furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders in California?

About 900 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?

California ranks #34 of 43 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.54x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders the most?

Maryland has the highest median wage at $77,440 per year, followed by Kentucky ($75,620) and Illinois ($62,870).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes