Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in West Virginia make a median of $45,690 a year, or about $21.97 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $51,320 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $46K get you in West Virginia?
About furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (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, West Virginia
Entry-level furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,197/month. At HUD’s $1,008/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 West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
West Virginia pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders make in West Virginia?
The median is $45,690 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,620, and experienced furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders can clear $59,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,104/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 32.5% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $51,320 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.