Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Washington make a median of $58,580 a year, or about $28.17 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $57,426 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 45% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Washington?
About furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 44.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Washington
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso | $69K | +18% | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $60K | +3% | 150 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $55K | -5% | 30 |
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 Washington 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 Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 44.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,832/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $59K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
Washington pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in Washington?
The median is $58,580 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,200, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $72,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,092/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 44.7% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $57,426 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.