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

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

$44.53K Median Salary 1.8K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 5.1% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Annealing Operator, Dry Kiln Operator, Dryer Feeder, Evaporator Operator, Furnace Operator, Kiln Fireman, Kiln Operator, Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator, Oven Operator

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity

Control Precision

Oral Comprehension

Written Comprehension

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Near Vision

Speech Recognition

Information Ordering

Oral Expression

Reaction Time

Selective Attention

Speech Clarity

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Manual Dexterity

Multilimb Coordination

Perceptual Speed

Trunk Strength

Knowledge

Mechanical

Production and Processing

Public Safety and Security

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Active Listening

Critical Thinking

Monitoring

Operation and Control

Reading Comprehension

Speaking

Quality Control Analysis

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Word processing software

Inventory management software

Industrial control software

Tools

Power saws

Moisture meters

Drying cabinets or ovens

Track cranes

Hygrometers

Carts

Electronic toploading balances

Micrometers

Calipers

Air dryers

Hoists

Surface thermometers

Belt conveyors

Core drying ovens

Paint systems ovens

Forklifts

Electric furnace

Shovels

Pyrometers

Kilns for firing ceramics

Hand trucks or accessories

Bench scales

Analytical balances

Basket strainer

Forced air heating system

Skid steer loaders

Triple beam balances

Cleaning scrapers

Natural gas powered boilers

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

Knowledge

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Inventory management software: Assisi Software Assisi Inventory
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional