Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders is $54,430, or $26.17 per hour. About 16,780 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $75,880 in Minnesota to $39,610 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 36 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $75,880 | $36.48 | 200 | 0.63 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $75,020 | $36.07 | 150 | 0.32 |
| 3 | New York | $66,440 | $31.94 | 760 | 0.72 |
| 4 | Oregon | $64,410 | $30.97 | 400 | 1.89 |
| 5 | Washington | $62,850 | $30.22 | 330 | 0.86 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $60,780 | $29.22 | 390 | 0.73 |
| 7 | Utah | $60,510 | $29.09 | 330 | 1.77 |
| 8 | Arizona | $59,830 | $28.76 | 490 | 1.40 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $59,040 | $28.38 | 810 | 3.75 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $58,480 | $28.11 | 240 | 0.60 |
| 11 | California | $58,310 | $28.03 | 280 | 0.14 |
| 12 | Indiana | $58,300 | $28.03 | 1,520 | 4.41 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $57,490 | $27.64 | 730 | 2.06 |
| 14 | Iowa | $57,030 | $27.42 | 330 | 1.94 |
| 15 | Virginia | $57,000 | $27.41 | 110 | 0.24 |
| 16 | Nevada | $56,790 | $27.31 | 130 | 0.76 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $56,290 | $27.06 | 70 | 0.90 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $55,910 | $26.88 | 1,230 | 1.89 |
| 19 | Missouri | $55,480 | $26.67 | 200 | 0.64 |
| 20 | Ohio | $55,080 | $26.48 | 1,790 | 2.99 |
| 21 | Alabama | $54,260 | $26.09 | 1,250 | 5.50 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $52,800 | $25.39 | 60 | 0.52 |
| 23 | Illinois | $51,020 | $24.53 | 590 | 0.90 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $50,510 | $24.28 | 60 | 0.34 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $50,260 | $24.17 | 60 | 0.69 |
| 26 | Florida | $49,780 | $23.94 | 700 | 0.65 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $48,890 | $23.51 | 110 | 0.57 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $48,260 | $23.20 | 540 | 1.71 |
| 29 | Georgia | $47,750 | $22.96 | 230 | 0.44 |
| 30 | Texas | $46,670 | $22.44 | 600 | 0.39 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $46,380 | $22.30 | 60 | 0.79 |
| 32 | Michigan | $44,900 | $21.59 | 680 | 1.44 |
| 33 | Kansas | $44,800 | $21.54 | 100 | 0.64 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $44,160 | $21.23 | 290 | 1.18 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $39,920 | $19.19 | 490 | 3.51 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $39,610 | $19.04 | 120 | 0.96 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make?
The median annual wage for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in the United States is $54,430, or $26.17 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $39,200, and the top 10% earn $74,470.
How many metal-refining furnace operators and tenders are employed in the U.S.?
About 16,780 people work as metal-refining furnace operators and tenders nationwide.
Which state pays metal-refining furnace operators and tenders the most?
Minnesota pays the most at a median of $75,880, followed by New Jersey ($75,020) and New York ($66,440).
Which state pays metal-refining furnace operators and tenders the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $39,610.
Where are metal-refining furnace operators and tenders jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alabama at 5.50×.