Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $46,440 -1.2% vs national
Median hourly $22.33
10th percentile $33,390
90th percentile $55,350
Employed locally 100
National median $47,010

Compare Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

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Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,390
    25th
    $46,440
    50th (median)
    $46,440
    75th
    $55,350
    90th
    $55,350

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 77% Median Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary is 23% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $81,530
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $79,270
    Kentucky $75,220
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $75,010
    Maryland $75,000
    Wyoming $74,530

    Nearby metros — Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $57,270
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $53,880
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $46,410
    Florence, SC $46,370
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $44,160
    North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $43,510

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,670
    Upholsterers $59,400
    Sewing Machine Operators $46,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $63,280
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $41,340
    Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $52,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Hickory, NC is $22.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.61 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders salary in Hickory, NC is 1.2% below the national median of $47,010. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Hickory?

    Entry-level Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $33,390 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,440.