SalaryExplorer

SOC 51-9051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

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

Rome, GA · 5 metro areas compared

$51,280 /year
$24.66per hour
30jobs in area
+6.7%vs US median

The median wage here is $51,280 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $48,040.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $48,04010TH$37,58025TH$46,200MEDIAN$51,28090TH$61,620

The next ten years

Projected to grow about as fast as average

Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
+3.0%
Openings per year
1,900
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.

Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Rome, GA.

Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.

Salary overview

The median wage here is $51,280 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $48,040. Half of workers earn between $46,200 and $61,620. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $37,580 and the ninetieth at $61,620.

The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Savannah leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,390. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 93rd of 203 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Rome, GA · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$37,580−21.8%
25th$46,200−3.8%
Median (50th)$51,280+6.7%
75th$61,620+28.3%
90th$61,620+28.3%
Mean$53,160+10.7%

Why the average earner is usually not a typical earner

Other metro areas in Georgia

Median annual wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Savannah$66,39040
2Augusta$52,03040
3Atlanta$48,540220
4Columbus$47,95030
5Macon$44,76050

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Rome run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $51,280 goes as far as $56,851 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.3% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$51,280as reported by BLS

Local price level

90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$56,851US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $51,280 a year, 6.7% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $37,580 to $61,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Savannah, at $66,390.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders in Rome, GA?

The median annual wage is $51,280, or $24.66 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $48,040, so pay in Rome, GA is 6.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Rome, GA earns more than $61,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $37,580 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Savannah, at $66,390 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Rome, GA. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.