Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA make a median of $53,880 a year, or about $25.9 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $51,110 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month — about 54.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $54K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $75K | +60% | 260 |
| Maryland | $75K | +60% | 120 |
| Wyoming | $75K | +59% | 40 |
| Nevada | $67K | +42% | 40 |
| Virginia | $65K | +37% | 280 |
| Minnesota | $60K | +28% | 80 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +27% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $59K | +24% | 480 |
| Illinois | $57K | +22% | 470 |
| Idaho | $57K | +20% | 150 |
| Iowa | $56K | +19% | 200 |
| Washington | $54K | +15% | 600 |
| Missouri | $54K | +14% | 270 |
| New York | $54K | +14% | 670 |
| West Virginia | $53K | +12% | 130 |
| Indiana | $52K | +11% | 720 |
| New Hampshire | $51K | +9% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $51K | +9% | 110 |
| Oregon | $51K | +8% | 470 |
| Wisconsin | $50K | +7% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $49K | +5% | 120 |
| Alabama | $49K | +4% | 1,100 |
| Maine | $49K | +3% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | +2% | 450 |
| Georgia | $47K | +0% | 730 |
| Kansas | $47K | -1% | 260 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -1% | 420 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -1% | 180 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -3% | 310 |
| California | $44K | -6% | 1,100 |
| Tennessee | $44K | -7% | 530 |
| Mississippi | $44K | -7% | 370 |
| Connecticut | $43K | -8% | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $43K | -8% | 340 |
| Texas | $43K | -8% | 920 |
| South Dakota | $43K | -9% | 60 |
| Michigan | $42K | -10% | 520 |
| Vermont | $41K | -12% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -12% | 770 |
| Arizona | $40K | -14% | 230 |
| Ohio | $40K | -15% | 1,210 |
| Florida | $38K | -18% | 360 |
| Utah | $37K | -21% | 160 |
| Montana | $29K | -38% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $53,880 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,670, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $66,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,429/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 56.1% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders salary is worth about $51,110 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.