Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $54,430 | $26.17 |
| Mean (average) | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| 90th percentile | $74,470 | $35.81 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 36 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,260 | $36,130 | $79,780 | 1,250 | 5.5 |
| Arizona | $59,830 | $45,180 | $76,480 | 490 | 1.4 |
| Arkansas | $39,920 | $34,920 | $61,880 | 490 | 3.51 |
| California | $58,310 | $46,940 | $72,460 | 280 | 0.14 |
| Connecticut | $50,510 | $37,830 | $67,110 | 60 | 0.34 |
| Florida | $49,780 | $38,260 | $60,790 | 700 | 0.65 |
| Georgia | $47,750 | $36,230 | $60,150 | 230 | 0.44 |
| Illinois | $51,020 | $44,130 | $63,180 | 590 | 0.9 |
| Indiana | $58,300 | $42,190 | $65,420 | 1,520 | 4.41 |
| Iowa | $57,030 | $44,090 | $62,660 | 330 | 1.94 |
| Kansas | $44,800 | $36,480 | $55,360 | 100 | 0.64 |
| Kentucky | $59,040 | $44,670 | $67,440 | 810 | 3.75 |
| Massachusetts | $58,480 | $45,140 | $75,310 | 240 | 0.6 |
| Michigan | $44,900 | $37,310 | $59,140 | 680 | 1.44 |
| Minnesota | $75,880 | $44,550 | $79,070 | 200 | 0.63 |
| Mississippi | $39,610 | $35,860 | $56,910 | 120 | 0.96 |
| Missouri | $55,480 | $51,250 | $65,120 | 200 | 0.64 |
| Nebraska | $52,800 | $39,480 | $67,070 | 60 | 0.52 |
| Nevada | $56,790 | $40,590 | $79,020 | 130 | 0.76 |
| New Hampshire | $46,380 | $39,100 | $62,320 | 60 | 0.79 |
| New Jersey | $75,020 | $53,100 | $79,110 | 150 | 0.32 |
| New Mexico | $50,260 | $38,380 | $65,180 | 60 | 0.69 |
| New York | $66,440 | $46,840 | $81,650 | 760 | 0.72 |
| North Carolina | $60,780 | $40,350 | $74,470 | 390 | 0.73 |
| Ohio | $55,080 | $40,010 | $71,080 | 1,790 | 2.99 |
| Oklahoma | $48,890 | $38,460 | $57,190 | 110 | 0.57 |
| Oregon | $64,410 | $46,020 | $84,070 | 400 | 1.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,910 | $39,410 | $70,010 | 1,230 | 1.89 |
| South Carolina | $44,160 | $37,060 | $70,940 | 290 | 1.18 |
| Tennessee | $57,490 | $37,430 | $75,470 | 730 | 2.06 |
| Texas | $46,670 | $38,250 | $73,930 | 600 | 0.39 |
| Utah | $60,510 | $45,190 | $78,760 | 330 | 1.77 |
| Virginia | $57,000 | $36,840 | $74,650 | 110 | 0.24 |
| Washington | $62,850 | $48,690 | $92,050 | 330 | 0.86 |
| West Virginia | $56,290 | $39,910 | $72,120 | 70 | 0.9 |
| Wisconsin | $48,260 | $43,930 | $61,640 | 540 | 1.71 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
- Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
- Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.
- Record production data, and maintain production logs.
- Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
- Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
- Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
- Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Process control software
- Process safety management software
- Production tracking system software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Social Perceptiveness, Equipment Maintenance.
Common job titles: Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Central Melt Specialist, Control Room Operator, Electric Melt Operator, Furnace Operator, Melt Room Operator, Melter, Vacuum Melter, Vessel Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders was $54,430 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,200 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $74,470. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is metal-refining furnace operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders to change -2.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay metal-refining furnace operators and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($75,880), New Jersey ($75,020), New York ($66,440). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.