Jobs Similar to Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Also called: Furnace, Kiln, and Kettle Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers, Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders: $48,040 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
82% similar · $46,350 (−4%) · High school
- 2Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $39,530 (−18%) · High school
- 3Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
81% similar · $96,710 (+101%) · High school
- 4Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
81% similar · $46,460 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 5Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
81% similar · $43,220 (−10%) · High school · Same group
- 6Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
81% similar · $38,180 (−21%) · High school
- 7Machine Feeders and Offbearers
81% similar · $41,220 (−14%) · High school
- 8Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $52,800 (+10%) · High school
- 9Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $50,270 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 10Tire Builders
80% similar · $57,390 (+19%) · High school · Same group
- 11Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $50,140 (+4%) · High school
- 12Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
80% similar · $54,430 (+13%) · High school
- 13Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
80% similar · $58,040 (+21%) · High school · Same group
- 14Helpers--Production Workers
79% similar · $39,070 (−19%) · High school · Same group
- 15Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
79% similar · $61,770 (+29%) · High school
- 16Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $46,550 (−3%) · High school
- 17Biomass Plant Technicians
79% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
- 18Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $45,760 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 19Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
78% similar · $77,320 (+61%) · High school
- 20Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $43,530 (−9%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers81% similar · $96,710 (+101%)
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators78% similar · $77,320 (+61%)
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers79% similar · $61,770 (+29%)
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders80% similar · $58,040 (+21%)
- Tire Builders80% similar · $57,390 (+19%)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders80% similar · $54,430 (+13%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (91)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (89)
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (88)
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (85)
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers (85)
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (84)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (82)
- Food Batchmakers (81)
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (81)
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders (80)
Questions about jobs like furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
What jobs are most similar to furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (82% similar), Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (81% similar), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (81% similar), Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (81% similar) and Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (81% similar).
Which jobs like furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +101%; usually a high school diploma), Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators ($77,320, +61%; usually a high school diploma) and Pump Operators ($61,770, +29%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders ($48,040). Without more preparation than furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators and Pump Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.