The median annual wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $56,410 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $54,550.
Pay spans roughly $37,700 at the 10th percentile to $75,210 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $27.12 per hour. An estimated 310 people work as furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $56,410 |
| Mean (annual) | $54,550 |
| Median (hourly) | $27.12 |
| 10th percentile | $37,700 |
| 90th percentile | $75,210 |
| Employment | 310 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.