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Salary comparison

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders by $26K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders land at $48,040 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is Maryland ($77,440); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$48,040
$74,450
Hourly rate
$23.1/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,960
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$69,800
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
14,280
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
3%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Maryland
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Maryland
$77,440
$78,520
Wyoming
$62,130
$90,390
North Dakota
$60,170
$76,350
Washington
$58,580
$79,310
Colorado
$55,770
$78,890
Massachusetts
$53,300
$79,920
Vermont
$52,560
$75,540
New Jersey
$52,440
$81,110
New York
$49,280
$78,580
New Hampshire
$49,250
$79,310
South Carolina
$48,170
$77,500
Maine
$48,060
$78,970
Louisiana
$47,820
$77,520
Minnesota
$47,210
$78,550
California
$45,300
$76,840

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $48,040 for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $26K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders has the better 10-year outlook at 3% projected growth, compared to 1.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders get paid the most?

Maryland is the top-paying state for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders at $77,440/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Maryland, Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders earn $77,440 vs. $78,520 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tendersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →