Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Montana make a median of $53,250 a year, or about $25.6 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $54,897 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in Montana?
About furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
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 Montana 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 Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 31.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,656/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Montana?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $53K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
Montana pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in Montana?
The median is $53,250 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,600, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $60,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,566/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 31.7% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 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 $54,897 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.