Also called: Kiln Operator, Kiln Technician
Dries freshly cut lumber in huge ovens so it won't warp or crack.
You load stacks of wet lumber into a warehouse-sized kiln and program the heat and humidity schedule. Then you check moisture meters for days, tweaking settings so the wood dries just right. Too fast and it cracks; too slow and the mill falls behind.
Estimated.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High-school diploma; trained on the job, with optional kiln-drying short courses.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing slowly. No separate BLS projection.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Kiln controllers with moisture sensors automate drying schedules; one operator covers more kilns.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at sawmills and lumber yards or through a staffing agency; new hires are trained on the job
Classes: Chemistry, Woodshop class.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.