Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by state
What Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionQuality Control Analysis
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pay by experience level
Entry level$40,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$47,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$56,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$65,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$77,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-2.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,000
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by industry
Primary Metal Manufacturing
13,380 workers
$58,500
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing
3,800 workers
$60,500
Foundries
3,670 workers
$52,000
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing
3,020 workers
$58,000
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing
2,420 workers
$64,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
1,390 workers
$49,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
700 workers
$54,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
610 workers
$51,500
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities
570 workers
$46,500
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel
470 workers
$63,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pays 3% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
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