Career Overview
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 Known As
- Dry Kiln Operator
- Furnace Operator
- Kiln Fireman
- Kiln Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- Ager Operator
- Annealer
- Annealing Operator
- 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
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operations Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Control Precision
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Selective Attention
- Reaction Time
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Basket strainers
- Cleaning scrapers
- Continuous baking furnaces
- Conveyor belts
- Curing ovens
- Dielectric power loss moisture meters
- Digital bench scales
- Digital calipers
- Digital hygrometers
- Digital micrometers
- Drying ovens
- Electric hoists
- Electric moisture meters
- Electronic top-loading balances
- Glass kilns
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $35,010 |
| Median | $47,010 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $66,190 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 16,160
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,500
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,130
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $55,770
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $47,450
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $41,460
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.