Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders vs Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: Salary, Job Outlook & Education | Career Matchup
Career Matchup
CompareFind careersExploreGuideBrowseMethodology

Career comparison

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders vs Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Compare the evidence side by side. Career Matchup shows the source data without declaring an overall winner.

vs

This comparison has a permanent, readable URL. Change either career above to update it.

01 · Compensation

Pay and employment

Median annual wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,040
99% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

Mean annual wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$50,940
95% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$53,450
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

Hourly median wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$23.10
99% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$23.35
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

Hourly mean wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$24.49
95% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$25.70
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

10th percentile annual wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$35,960
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$35,510
99% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

25th percentile annual wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$41,130
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$39,890
97% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

75th percentile annual wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$59,830
97% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$61,440
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

90th percentile annual wage

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$69,800
90% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$77,860
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

National employment

2025

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders14,280
6% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers597,370
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-9061

02 · Outlook

Employment outlook

Bars compare the same metric across the two careers. They are not an overall score.

Projected employment change

2025-2035

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2.6%
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers2.5%
96% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9061

Average annual openings

2025-2035

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders1.8k
6% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers66.7k
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9061

03 · Preparation

Education and training

Typical entry-level education

2025-2035

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9061

Related work experience

2025-2035

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9061

On-the-job training

2025-2035

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9051

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-9061

04 · Context and fit

Work context

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Contact with others

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3.7 raw · CX scale
66% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4.5 raw · CX scale
89% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Time pressure

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2.8 raw · CX scale
46% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.7 raw · CX scale
68% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Spend time standing

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3.9 raw · CX scale
72% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.8 raw · CX scale
71% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Exposed to contaminants

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders4.5 raw · CX scale
87% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4.3 raw · CX scale
82% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Exposed to disease or infections

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders1.6 raw · CX scale
14% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1 raw · CX scale
1% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Exposed to hazardous equipment

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3.6 raw · CX scale
66% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.4 raw · CX scale
60% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

04 · Context and fit

Skills

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Active listening

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Monitoring

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Critical thinking

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.3 raw · LV scale
46% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Reading comprehension

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Speaking

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Writing

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2.6 raw · LV scale
37% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Active learning

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Mathematics

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2 raw · LV scale
29% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers2.5 raw · LV scale
36% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

04 · Context and fit

Work styles

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Dependability

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2.3 raw · WI scale
89% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers2.5 raw · WI scale
91% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Attention to detail

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders2.2 raw · WI scale
86% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3 raw · WI scale
100% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Stress tolerance

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders1.1 raw · WI scale
68% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1 raw · WI scale
66% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Cooperation

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders0.5 raw · WI scale
59% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9051.00

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers0.7 raw · WI scale
62% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-9061.00

Explore your next step

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

  • Use the career comparison checklist

Sources

Each side retains the source release, reference period, occupation code, and file hash used for the comparison.

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-9051 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-9051 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-9051.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-9061 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-9061 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-9061.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Read the data in context

Career Matchup does not declare an overall winner. National estimates can hide local variation, and O*NET relative values describe the named construct rather than whether a career is better.

Career Matchup is an independent comparison tool.

Data sourcesData availabilityAboutFree guideContactPrivacyTermsData: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET® Database.