Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Illinois make a median of $62,870 a year, or about $30.23 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $66,990 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Illinois?
About furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $59K | -7% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,737/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tender a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $63K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
Illinois pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in Illinois?
The median is $62,870 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,620, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $73,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,120/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary is worth about $66,990 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.