Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders pay in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the median pay for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders is $21.49 an hour ($44,710 a year). About 640 people work in this job there.

$21.49Median hourly pay

$42,640–$49,180Middle half of workers, yearly

640People in this job in Tennessee

That is 7% lower than the U.S. median ($48,040). Tennessee ranks 36th of 43 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders in Tennessee

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$18.73	$38,960
25% of workers	$20.50	$42,640
Half of workers (median)	$21.49	$44,710
75% of workers	$23.64	$49,180
90% of workers	$27.83	$57,890

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders pay in Tennessee metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	$49,150	160
Memphis	$46,460	40
Knoxville	$45,820	80
Clarksville	$44,620	110
Chattanooga	$43,920	50

Tennessee unemployment rate: 3.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
Job outlook: +2.6% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 1,800 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Tennessee

Job	Median yearly pay
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$41,970
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$50,470
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$42,950
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders	$57,490
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$54,930
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	$45,760
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	$43,190
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$47,210

Other job titles for this job

FirerKiln OperatorCore Oven TenderAnnealerRivet HeaterTempererVulcanizing Machine OperatorKettle CoordinatorTenter Frame OperatorHair Boiler OperatorPad Extractor TenderSoap Boiler

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.