Prevailing Wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Prevailing wage for Annealing Operator positions is set by the DOL under SOC 51-9051, covering roles such as Dry Kiln Operator, Furnace Operator, and Kiln Fireman. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor for each level varies meaningfully by metro area. Checking your city's figure before evaluating a sponsored offer is essential.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level operators with limited experience, typically performing closely supervised tasks such as monitoring temperature gauges or loading materials into ovens and kilns. Workers at this level follow established procedures with little independent judgment required.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It covers qualified operators who work with moderate supervision, can adjust equipment settings independently, and have typically accumulated one to three years of hands-on experience in industrial heating processes.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who troubleshoot equipment problems, train newer workers, and manage heating cycles with minimal oversight. These professionals typically bring several years of specialized experience across multiple materials or processes such as annealing, drying, or curing.
Level 4 covers fully competent operators in senior or lead roles who set procedures, oversee production lines, and may coordinate with engineering or quality teams. Employers filing at this level expect independent technical authority and extensive cross-process expertise.
Prevailing Wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Annealing Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify which kiln process drives your level
Employers often file at different levels depending on whether the role involves annealing glass, drying lumber, or curing rubber. The material and process complexity directly influence which DOL wage level the LCA reflects, so confirm the process type matches your experience before accepting an offer.
Watch low-paying metros before relocating
Metro areas like Grand Rapids and Miami carry prevailing wage floors well below the national median for this occupation. If a sponsor's worksite is in a lower-wage market, the LCA wage is pegged to that location, not a national average.
Check Louisville and Minneapolis for stronger floors
Top-paying metros for Furnace and Kiln Operators, including Louisville and Minneapolis, post Level 2 and Level 3 floors significantly above the national median. Targeting sponsors with facilities in these metros can meaningfully improve your guaranteed base wage.
Find verified kiln operator sponsors on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate lists jobs from employers with documented H-1B and green card sponsorship history, including companies that have previously sponsored Furnace and Kiln Operator roles. You can filter by location and visa type to identify which industrial employers are active sponsors.
Jobs for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Annealing OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9051.00 alongside Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Annealing Operator Prevailing Wage
Annealing Operator Prevailing Wage
Annealing Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Dry Kiln Operator Prevailing Wage
Dry Kiln Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dry Kiln Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Dryer Feeder Prevailing Wage
Dryer Feeder Prevailing Wage
Dryer Feeder is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Evaporator Operator Prevailing Wage
Evaporator Operator Prevailing Wage
Evaporator Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Furnace Operator Prevailing Wage
Furnace Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Furnace Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Kiln Fireman Prevailing Wage
Kiln Fireman Prevailing Wage
Kiln Fireman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Kiln Operator Prevailing Wage
Kiln Operator Prevailing Wage
Kiln Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator Prevailing Wage
Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Lime Kiln and Recausticizing Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Oven Operator Prevailing Wage
Oven Operator Prevailing Wage
Oven Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9051.00 (Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Annealing Operator roles?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish four wage levels for each SOC occupation in each metro area. For SOC 51-9051, those figures are published through the OFLC Wage Search tool. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience before USCIS approves the visa petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified operators working with moderate oversight; Level 3 covers experienced workers who troubleshoot and lead; Level 4 covers fully competent professionals in senior roles. Your level should match the duties and supervision structure in the actual job description, not just a title. OFLC and USCIS both scrutinize mismatches between stated level and described duties.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Dry Kiln Operator role vary so much by city?
DOL conducts regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wage floors reflect local labor markets rather than a national average. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite address, the prevailing wage is tied to that metro, not the employer's headquarters. Dense industrial markets with unionized manufacturing, like Baltimore or Minneapolis, tend to produce higher floors than less concentrated markets like Miami or Oklahoma City.
What happens if my sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. If OFLC detects the discrepancy during review, the LCA will be denied or withdrawn. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or green card petition without a certified LCA, so a below-floor offer legally cannot proceed to visa sponsorship without the employer raising the salary first.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Furnace Operator position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website: enter SOC code 51-9051, select the relevant metropolitan area, and the tool returns all four wage levels for that location. For roles labeled Evaporator Operator, Dryer Feeder, or Kiln Fireman, confirm the employer is using SOC 51-9051 on the LCA before comparing figures. O*NET also documents the full range of alternate titles covered under this SOC.
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