Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in the U.S.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in the U.S. earn a median of $54,430 a year ($26.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,470 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $55,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| 25th percentile | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Median | $54,430 | $26.17 |
| 75th percentile | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,470 | $35.81 |
| Average (mean) | $55,490 | $26.68 |
Half of Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,535.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,267.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,093.46 |
| Weekly | $1,046.73 |
| Hourly | $26.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,430 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $75,880 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $75,020 | 150 |
| New York | $66,440 | 760 |
| Oregon | $64,410 | 400 |
| Washington | $62,850 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $60,780 | 390 |
| Utah | $60,510 | 330 |
| Arizona | $59,830 | 490 |
| Kentucky | $59,040 | 810 |
| Massachusetts | $58,480 | 240 |
| California | $58,310 | 280 |
| Indiana | $58,300 | 1,520 |
| Tennessee | $57,490 | 730 |
| Iowa | $57,030 | 330 |
| Virginia | $57,000 | 110 |
| Nevada | $56,790 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $56,290 | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,910 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $55,480 | 200 |
| Ohio | $55,080 | 1,790 |
| Alabama | $54,260 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $52,800 | 60 |
| Illinois | $51,020 | 590 |
| Connecticut | $50,510 | 60 |
| New Mexico | $50,260 | 60 |
| Florida | $49,780 | 700 |
| Oklahoma | $48,890 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $48,260 | 540 |
| Georgia | $47,750 | 230 |
| Texas | $46,670 | 600 |
| New Hampshire | $46,380 | 60 |
| Michigan | $44,900 | 680 |
| Kansas | $44,800 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $44,160 | 290 |
| Arkansas | $39,920 | 490 |
| Mississippi | $39,610 | 120 |
Best-paying metro areas for Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $85,370 | 240 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $77,560 | 190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $74,060 | 190 |
| Reading, PA | $68,990 | 210 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $67,360 | 60 |
| Cleveland, OH | $65,660 | 520 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,170 | 700 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,170 | 170 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,780 | 240 |
| Huntsville, AL | $61,390 | 100 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60,810 | 320 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,510 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,430 | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $60,020 | 80 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,950 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 700 | $63,170 |
| Cleveland, OH | 520 | $65,660 |
| Birmingham, AL | 420 | $56,250 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 370 | $53,130 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 320 | $60,810 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 240 | $61,780 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 240 | $85,370 |
| Reading, PA | 210 | $68,990 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 190 | $51,330 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 190 | $74,060 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 190 | $77,560 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 180 | $60,510 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 180 | $56,550 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 170 | $63,170 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 170 | $47,570 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median salary for Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders in the U.S. is $54,430 a year, or $26.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders in the U.S. earn at least $74,470 a year. The top 25% earn $62,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,200 a year, and a quarter of Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders earn $46,080 or less.
How many Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders work in the U.S.?
About 16,780 Metal-Refining furnace operators and tenders are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.