51 Series · SOC 51-4051
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $54,430
- Median / year
- $74,470
- Top 10% earn
- -2.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 16,780
- US workers
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders earn a median of $54,430 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $54,430, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $39,200 (10th percentile) to $74,470 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 16,780 US workers. Minnesota pays the most ($75,880), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders earn a median of $54,430, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 40% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #23 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 2.3% by 2033.
- $54,430
- Median annual wage
- Top 60%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #23 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Minnesota at $75,880. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-4051) pays a national median of $54,430 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $39,200 at the 10th percentile to $74,470 at the 90th, with a mean of $55,490 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 16,780 Americans work in this occupation across 36 reporting states and 88 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -2.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Minnesota pays the highest state median at $75,880, which is +39% above the national figure. The top metro is Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA at $85,370 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$54,430
per year
Median Hourly
$26.17/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$55,490
average
Employment
16,780
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$54,430 Bottom 40% higher than 40% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at -2.3% growth and $54,430 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-2.3%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$39,200
25th Percentile
$46,080
Median
$54,430
75th Percentile
$62,810
90th Percentile
$74,470
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 36 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $75,880 | +39% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $75,020 | +38% above national |
| 3 | New York | $66,440 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $64,410 | +18% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $62,850 | +15% above national |
| 6 | North Carolina | $60,780 | +12% above national |
| 7 | Utah | $60,510 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Arizona | $59,830 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Kentucky | $59,040 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $58,480 | +7% above national |
| 11 | California | $58,310 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Indiana | $58,300 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Tennessee | $57,490 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Iowa | $57,030 | +5% above national |
| 15 | Virginia | $57,000 | +5% above national |
| 16 | Nevada | $56,790 | +4% above national |
| 17 | West Virginia | $56,290 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $55,910 | +3% above national |
| 19 | Missouri | $55,480 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Ohio | $55,080 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Alabama | $54,260 | same as national |
| 22 | Nebraska | $52,800 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Illinois | $51,020 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Connecticut | $50,510 | 7% below national |
| 25 | New Mexico | $50,260 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Florida | $49,780 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $48,890 | 10% below national |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $48,260 | 11% below national |
| 29 | Georgia | $47,750 | 12% below national |
| 30 | Texas | $46,670 | 14% below national |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $46,380 | 15% below national |
| 32 | Michigan | $44,900 | 18% below national |
| 33 | Kansas | $44,800 | 18% below national |
| 34 | South Carolina | $44,160 | 19% below national |
| 35 | Arkansas | $39,920 | 27% below national |
| 36 | Mississippi | $39,610 | 27% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 88 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $85,370 | +57% above national |
| 2 | Utica-Rome, NY | $77,560 | +42% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $74,060 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Reading, PA | $68,990 | +27% above national |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $67,360 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $65,660 | +21% above national |
| 7 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $65,160 | +20% above national |
| 8 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $63,360 | +16% above national |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,170 | +16% above national |
| 10 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,170 | +16% above national |
| 11 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $62,450 | +15% above national |
| 12 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,780 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Huntsville, AL | $61,390 | +13% above national |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,810 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,510 | +11% above national |
| 16 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,430 | +11% above national |
| 17 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $60,420 | +11% above national |
| 18 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $60,020 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $59,950 | +10% above national |
| 20 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,740 | +8% above national |
| 21 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,380 | +7% above national |
| 22 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,310 | +7% above national |
| 23 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,290 | +7% above national |
| 24 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $57,030 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $56,710 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $56,560 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $56,550 | +4% above national |
| 28 | Birmingham, AL | $56,250 | +3% above national |
| 29 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $55,830 | +3% above national |
| 30 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $55,080 | +1% above national |
| 31 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $53,230 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $53,130 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $52,230 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $51,330 | 6% below national |
| 35 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $51,100 | 6% below national |
| 36 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,080 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $50,990 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $50,910 | 6% below national |
| 39 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $50,900 | 6% below national |
| 40 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $50,760 | 7% below national |
| 41 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $50,510 | 7% below national |
| 42 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $50,420 | 7% below national |
| 43 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $50,270 | 8% below national |
| 44 | Mansfield, OH | $50,250 | 8% below national |
| 45 | Lancaster, PA | $50,100 | 8% below national |
| 46 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,040 | 8% below national |
| 47 | Jacksonville, FL | $49,780 | 9% below national |
| 48 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $49,710 | 9% below national |
| 49 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,690 | 9% below national |
| 50 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,660 | 9% below national |
| 51 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $49,440 | 9% below national |
| 52 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,410 | 9% below national |
| 53 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,310 | 9% below national |
| 54 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,220 | 10% below national |
| 55 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $48,460 | 11% below national |
| 56 | Toledo, OH | $48,410 | 11% below national |
| 57 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $48,260 | 11% below national |
| 58 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $47,900 | 12% below national |
| 59 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $47,570 | 13% below national |
| 60 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $47,370 | 13% below national |
| 61 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $46,960 | 14% below national |
| 62 | Erie, PA | $46,910 | 14% below national |
| 63 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $46,550 | 14% below national |
| 64 | Tulsa, OK | $46,550 | 14% below national |
| 65 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,470 | 15% below national |
| 66 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,460 | 15% below national |
| 67 | Fort Wayne, IN | $46,380 | 15% below national |
| 68 | Akron, OH | $46,210 | 15% below national |
| 69 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,920 | 16% below national |
| 70 | York-Hanover, PA | $45,810 | 16% below national |
| 71 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,740 | 16% below national |
| 72 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $45,580 | 16% below national |
| 73 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,550 | 16% below national |
| 74 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $44,840 | 18% below national |
| 75 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $44,700 | 18% below national |
| 76 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $43,690 | 20% below national |
| 77 | Morristown, TN | $43,270 | 21% below national |
| 78 | Mobile, AL | $43,250 | 21% below national |
| 79 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $40,800 | 25% below national |
| 80 | Wichita, KS | $40,770 | 25% below national |
| 81 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $40,190 | 26% below national |
| 82 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $40,050 | 26% below national |
| 83 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $39,450 | 28% below national |
| 84 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $39,180 | 28% below national |
| 85 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,830 | 29% below national |
| 86 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,110 | 32% below national |
| 87 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $37,060 | 32% below national |
| 88 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,860 | 34% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders make? ▼
What state pays Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders? ▼
How dangerous is being a Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders? ▼
Is Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders a good career? ▼
How does Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $62,810/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Minnesota leads at $75,880/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.