Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for metal-refining furnace operators and tenderss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- New Jersey$68,820
- Washington$68,470
- New York$67,430
- Oregon$66,610
- Minnesota$65,570
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$42,650
- Arkansas$43,560
- Kansas$45,270
- Michigan$47,100
- South Carolina$48,160
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $68,820 | $75,020 | $33 | +24% | 150 |
| 2 | Washington | $68,470 | $62,850 | $33 | +23.4% | 330 |
| 3 | New York | $67,430 | $66,440 | $32 | +21.5% | 760 |
| 4 | Oregon | $66,610 | $64,410 | $32 | +20% | 400 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $65,570 | $75,880 | $32 | +18.2% | 200 |
| 6 | California | $60,520 | $58,310 | $29 | +9.1% | 280 |
| 7 | Utah | $58,980 | $60,510 | $28 | +6.3% | 330 |
| 8 | Nevada | $58,370 | $56,790 | $28 | +5.2% | 130 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $58,000 | $57,490 | $28 | +4.5% | 730 |
| 10 | Arizona | $57,150 | $59,830 | $27 | +3% | 490 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $57,140 | $58,480 | $27 | +3% | 240 |
| 12 | Missouri | $57,010 | $55,480 | $27 | +2.7% | 200 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $56,790 | $59,040 | $27 | +2.3% | 810 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $56,610 | $55,910 | $27 | +2% | 1,230 |
| 15 | Virginia | $56,270 | $57,000 | $27 | +1.4% | 110 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $55,990 | $60,780 | $27 | +0.9% | 390 |
| 17 | Indiana | $55,900 | $58,300 | $27 | +0.7% | 1,520 |
| 18 | Alabama | $55,440 | $54,260 | $27 | -0.1% | 1,250 |
| 19 | Iowa | $55,210 | $57,030 | $27 | -0.5% | 330 |
| 20 | Ohio | $54,970 | $55,080 | $26 | -0.9% | 1,790 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $53,350 | $52,800 | $26 | -3.9% | 60 |
| 22 | Illinois | $52,660 | $51,020 | $25 | -5.1% | 590 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $52,530 | $56,290 | $25 | -5.3% | 70 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $52,260 | $50,510 | $25 | -5.8% | 60 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $51,410 | $48,260 | $25 | -7.4% | 540 |
| 26 | Florida | $51,310 | $49,780 | $25 | -7.5% | 700 |
| 27 | Texas | $51,010 | $46,670 | $25 | -8.1% | 600 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $50,960 | $50,260 | $25 | -8.2% | 60 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $49,260 | $46,380 | $24 | -11.2% | 60 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $49,120 | $48,890 | $24 | -11.5% | 110 |
| 31 | Georgia | $48,470 | $47,750 | $23 | -12.7% | 230 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $48,160 | $44,160 | $23 | -13.2% | 290 |
| 33 | Michigan | $47,100 | $44,900 | $23 | -15.1% | 680 |
| 34 | Kansas | $45,270 | $44,800 | $22 | -18.4% | 100 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $43,560 | $39,920 | $21 | -21.5% | 490 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $42,650 | $39,610 | $21 | -23.1% | 120 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 90 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $85,370 | $71,680 | 240 |
| 2 | Utica-Rome, NY | $77,560 | $67,190 | 190 |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $74,060 | $67,550 | 190 |
| 4 | Reading, PA | $68,990 | $70,960 | 210 |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $67,360 | $59,940 | 60 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $65,660 | $60,740 | 520 |
| 7 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $65,160 | $57,210 | 60 |
| 8 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $63,360 | $60,530 | 310 |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,170 | $58,210 | 700 |
| 10 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,170 | $62,590 | 170 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing metal-refining furnace operators and tenderss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $74,650 | $77,130 | 30 |
| 2 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $74,650 | $77,130 | 30 |
| 3 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $64,680 | $65,560 | 40 |
| 4 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $63,360 | $62,400 | 2,420 |
| 5 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $60,510 | $62,710 | — |
| 6 | Metal Ore Mining | $60,510 | $62,710 | — |
| 7 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $60,510 | $62,710 | — |
| 8 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $60,450 | $60,720 | 470 |
| 9 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $59,740 | $58,490 | 3,800 |
| 10 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $58,540 | $55,030 | 280 |
| 11 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $58,470 | $54,400 | 50 |
| 12 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $58,450 | $56,190 | 3,020 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary in the United States is $54,430 per year (mean $55,490), and about 80% earn between $39,200 and $74,470.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make per hour?
Roughly $27 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $55,490 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays metal-refining furnace operators and tenders the most?
New Jersey has the highest average pay for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders at $68,820 per year (median $75,020).
What is the job outlook for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Employment is projected to change -2.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 2,000 openings per year.