Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Missouri make a median of $49,470 a year, or about $23.78 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $55,603 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Missouri?
About furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Missouri
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Missouri
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $52K | +6% | 90 |
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 Missouri 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 Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,384/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
Missouri pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in Missouri?
The median is $49,470 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,730, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $63,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,352/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 32.7% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $55,603 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.