SOC 51-4051 · Production Occupations

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$54,430

U.S. median hourly wage$26.17

U.S. employment16,780

Nationally, metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earned a median of $54,430 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 16,780 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: pay and employment by state
State
Minnesota	$75,880	$36.48	200	0.1
New Jersey	$75,020	$36.07	150	0.0
New York	$66,440	$31.94	760	0.1
Oregon	$64,410	$30.97	400	0.2
Washington	$62,850	$30.22	330	0.1
North Carolina	$60,780	$29.22	390	0.1
Utah	$60,510	$29.09	330	0.2
Arizona	$59,830	$28.76	490	0.2
Kentucky	$59,040	$28.38	810	0.4
Massachusetts	$58,480	$28.11	240	0.1
California	$58,310	$28.03	280	0.0
Indiana	$58,300	$28.03	1,520	0.5
Tennessee	$57,490	$27.64	730	0.2
Iowa	$57,030	$27.42	330	0.2
Virginia	$57,000	$27.41	110	0.0
Nevada	$56,790	$27.31	130	0.1
West Virginia	$56,290	$27.06	70	0.1
Pennsylvania	$55,910	$26.88	1,230	0.2
Missouri	$55,480	$26.67	200	0.1
Ohio	$55,080	$26.48	1,790	0.3
Alabama	$54,260	$26.09	1,250	0.6
Nebraska	$52,800	$25.39	60	0.1
Illinois	$51,020	$24.53	590	0.1
Connecticut	$50,510	$24.28	60	0.0
New Mexico	$50,260	$24.17	60	0.1
Florida	$49,780	$23.94	700	0.1
Oklahoma	$48,890	$23.51	110	0.1
Wisconsin	$48,260	$23.20	540	0.2
Georgia	$47,750	$22.96	230	0.0
Texas	$46,670	$22.44	600	0.0
New Hampshire	$46,380	$22.30	60	0.1
Michigan	$44,900	$21.59	680	0.2
Kansas	$44,800	$21.54	100	0.1
South Carolina	$44,160	$21.23	290	0.1
Arkansas	$39,920	$19.19	490	0.4
Mississippi	$39,610	$19.04	120	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 61 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$85,370	$41.04	240	0.9
Utica-Rome, NY	$77,560	$37.29	190	1.6
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$74,060	$35.61	190	0.2
Reading, PA	$68,990	$33.17	210	1.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$67,360	$32.38	60	0.0
Cleveland, OH	$65,660	$31.57	520	0.5
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$63,170	$30.37	700	0.2
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$63,170	$30.37	170	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$61,780	$29.70	240	0.2
Huntsville, AL	$61,390	$29.52	100	0.4
Pittsburgh, PA	$60,810	$29.24	320	0.3
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$60,510	$29.09	180	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$60,430	$29.05	80	0.0
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$60,020	$28.85	80	0.9
Columbus, OH	$59,950	$28.82	70	0.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$58,310	$28.04	160	0.0
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$58,290	$28.02	40	0.0
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$57,030	$27.42	120	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$56,710	$27.27	160	0.1
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$56,550	$27.19	180	1.1
Birmingham, AL	$56,250	$27.04	420	0.8
Canton-Massillon, OH	$55,080	$26.48	100	0.6
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$53,130	$25.54	370	0.3
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$52,230	$25.11	80	0.1
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$51,330	$24.68	190	0.1
St. Louis, MO-IL	$51,100	$24.57	100	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$51,080	$24.56	160	0.4
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$50,990	$24.52	80	0.0
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$50,510	$24.28	30	0.1
Anniston-Oxford, AL	$50,420	$24.24	70	1.7
Mansfield, OH	$50,250	$24.16	80	1.6
Lancaster, PA	$50,100	$24.09	70	0.3
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$50,040	$24.06	90	0.1
Jacksonville, FL	$49,780	$23.94	80	0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$49,690	$23.89	150	0.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$49,660	$23.88	130	0.1
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$49,440	$23.77	130	0.0
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$49,410	$23.76	90	0.0
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$49,310	$23.71	110	0.1
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$48,460	$23.30	30	0.1
Toledo, OH	$48,410	$23.27	150	0.5
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$47,570	$22.87	170	0.2
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	$46,960	$22.58	70	1.8
Erie, PA	$46,910	$22.55	30	0.3
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$46,550	$22.38	60	0.2
Tulsa, OK	$46,550	$22.38	40	0.1
Fort Wayne, IN	$46,380	$22.30	130	0.6
Akron, OH	$46,210	$22.22	80	0.3
York-Hanover, PA	$45,810	$22.03	40	0.2
Killeen-Temple, TX	$45,580	$21.92	40	0.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$44,700	$21.49	100	0.0
Morristown, TN	$43,270	$20.80	40	0.9
Mobile, AL	$43,250	$20.79	70	0.4
Wichita, KS	$40,770	$19.60	30	0.1
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	$40,050	$19.25	120	1.9
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$39,450	$18.97	80	0.1
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$39,180	$18.84	150	0.4
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$38,830	$18.67	100	0.2
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$37,060	$17.82	60	0.1
Albany, OR	Not published	Not published	140	3.0
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	Not published	Not published	160	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.