Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Nebraska make a median of $41,650 a year, or about $20.02 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $46,252 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 39.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Nebraska. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $42K get you in Nebraska?
About furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders in Nebraska runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 39.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $29K 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 39.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,773/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Nebraska?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $42K here vs. $48K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
Nebraska pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in Nebraska?
The median is $41,650 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,550, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $58,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,849/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 39.1% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $46,252 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.