Top 15 cities for this job by average salary
| Spokane, WA | $71,680 |
|---|---|
| Reading, PA | $70,960 |
| Portland, OR | $67,550 |
| Utica, NY | $67,190 |
| New York, NY | $66,410 |
| Charlotte, NC | $63,450 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,620 |
| Huntsville, AL | $60,950 |
| Cleveland, OH | $60,740 |
| Riverside, CA | $59,940 |
| Waterloo, IA | $58,710 |
| Chicago, IL | $58,210 |
| Boston, MA | $57,830 |
| Dallas, TX | $57,570 |
Map: Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by metro area
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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by state
New Jersey pays metal-refining furnace operators and tenders the most statewide, $68,820 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $68,820 | $75,020 | 150 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $68,470 | $62,850 | 330 | 2 | $71,680 | $57,200 |
| New York | $67,430 | $66,440 | 760 | 2 | $67,190 | $66,410 |
| Oregon | $66,610 | $64,410 | 400 | 1 | $67,550 | $67,550 |
| Minnesota | $65,570 | $75,880 | 200 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $60,520 | $58,310 | 280 | 2 | $61,620 | $59,940 |
| Utah | $58,980 | $60,510 | 330 | 1 | $54,700 | $54,700 |
| Nevada | $58,370 | $56,790 | 130 | 1 | $54,960 | $54,960 |
| Tennessee | $58,000 | $57,490 | 730 | 3 | $54,340 | $42,090 |
| Arizona | $57,150 | $59,830 | 490 | 1 | $52,120 | $52,120 |
| Massachusetts | $57,140 | $58,480 | 240 | 1 | $57,830 | $57,830 |
| Missouri | $57,010 | $55,480 | 200 | 1 | $51,380 | $51,380 |
| Kentucky | $56,790 | $59,040 | 810 | 1 | $47,590 | $47,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,610 | $55,910 | 1,230 | 7 | $70,960 | $45,930 |
| Virginia | $56,270 | $57,000 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $55,990 | $60,780 | 390 | 1 | $63,450 | $63,450 |
| Indiana | $55,900 | $58,300 | 1,520 | 3 | $55,720 | $50,010 |
| Alabama | $55,440 | $54,260 | 1,250 | 4 | $60,950 | $45,110 |
| Iowa | $55,210 | $57,030 | 330 | 1 | $58,710 | $58,710 |
| Ohio | $54,970 | $55,080 | 1,790 | 9 | $60,740 | $46,220 |
| Rhode Island | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $53,540 | $53,540 |
| Nebraska | $53,350 | $52,800 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $52,660 | $51,020 | 590 | 1 | $58,210 | $58,210 |
| West Virginia | $52,530 | $56,290 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Connecticut | $52,260 | $50,510 | 60 | 1 | $50,400 | $50,400 |
| Wisconsin | $51,410 | $48,260 | 540 | 1 | $51,430 | $51,430 |
| Florida | $51,310 | $49,780 | 700 | 3 | $52,340 | $49,490 |
| Texas | $51,010 | $46,670 | 600 | 3 | $57,570 | $45,950 |
| New Mexico | $50,960 | $50,260 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $49,260 | $46,380 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $49,120 | $48,890 | 110 | 1 | $48,390 | $48,390 |
| Georgia | $48,470 | $47,750 | 230 | 1 | $49,850 | $49,850 |
| South Carolina | $48,160 | $44,160 | 290 | 2 | $47,930 | $41,610 |
| Michigan | $47,100 | $44,900 | 680 | 3 | $51,380 | $44,120 |
| Kansas | $45,270 | $44,800 | 100 | 1 | $43,700 | $43,700 |
| Arkansas | $43,560 | $39,920 | 490 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Mississippi | $42,650 | $39,610 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | $71,680 | $85,370 | $34.46 | 240 |
| Reading, PA | $70,960 | $68,990 | $34.12 | 210 |
| Portland, OR | $67,550 | $74,060 | $32.48 | 190 |
| Utica, NY | $67,190 | $77,560 | $32.30 | 190 |
| New York, NY | $66,410 | $60,430 | $31.93 | 80 |
| Charlotte, NC | $63,450 | $61,780 | $30.51 | 240 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,590 | $63,170 | $30.09 | 170 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,620 | $58,310 | $29.63 | 160 |
| Huntsville, AL | $60,950 | $61,390 | $29.30 | 100 |
| Cleveland, OH | $60,740 | $65,660 | $29.20 | 520 |
| Riverside, CA | $59,940 | $67,360 | $28.82 | 60 |
| Waterloo, IA | $58,710 | $60,020 | $28.23 | 80 |
| Chicago, IL | $58,210 | $63,170 | $27.99 | 700 |
| Boston, MA | $57,830 | $56,710 | $27.80 | 160 |
| Dallas, TX | $57,570 | $50,990 | $27.68 | 80 |
| Seattle, WA | $57,200 | $58,290 | $27.50 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $57,050 | $59,950 | $27.43 | 70 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $56,640 | $60,810 | $27.23 | 320 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $55,720 | $50,040 | $26.79 | 90 |
| Houston, TX | $55,400 | $49,440 | $26.64 | 130 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $54,960 | $52,230 | $26.43 | 80 |
| Canton, OH | $54,720 | $55,080 | $26.31 | 100 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $54,700 | $60,510 | $26.30 | 180 |
| Nashville, TN | $54,340 | $57,030 | $26.13 | 120 |
| Youngstown, OH | $54,120 | $56,550 | $26.02 | 180 |
| Mansfield, OH | $53,590 | $50,250 | $25.76 | 80 |
| Providence, RI | $53,540 | $47,570 | $25.74 | 170 |
| Birmingham, AL | $53,290 | $56,250 | $25.62 | 420 |
| Tampa, FL | $52,340 | $53,130 | $25.16 | 370 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $52,150 | $49,780 | $25.07 | 80 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $52,120 | $49,660 | $25.06 | 130 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $51,430 | $49,310 | $24.73 | 110 |
| Detroit, MI | $51,380 | $51,330 | $24.70 | 190 |
| St. Louis, MO | $51,380 | $51,100 | $24.70 | 100 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $51,120 | $46,380 | $24.58 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $51,060 | $49,690 | $24.55 | 150 |
| Allentown, PA | $50,990 | $51,080 | $24.52 | 160 |
| Hartford, CT | $50,400 | $50,510 | $24.23 | 30 |
| Lancaster, PA | $50,330 | $50,100 | $24.20 | 70 |
| Michigan City, IN | $50,010 | $46,960 | $24.05 | 70 |
| Atlanta, GA | $49,850 | $44,700 | $23.97 | 100 |
| Anniston, AL | $49,600 | $50,420 | $23.85 | 70 |
| Toledo, OH | $49,530 | $48,410 | $23.81 | 150 |
| Miami, FL | $49,490 | $49,410 | $23.80 | 90 |
| Tulsa, OK | $48,390 | $46,550 | $23.27 | 40 |
| Charleston, SC | $47,930 | $39,180 | $23.04 | 150 |
| Akron, OH | $47,740 | $46,210 | $22.95 | 80 |
| Erie, PA | $47,720 | $46,910 | $22.94 | 30 |
| Louisville, KY | $47,590 | $39,450 | $22.88 | 80 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,660 | $46,550 | $22.44 | 60 |
| Dayton, OH | $46,220 | $48,460 | $22.22 | 30 |
| Killeen, TX | $45,950 | $45,580 | $22.09 | 40 |
| York, PA | $45,930 | $45,810 | $22.08 | 40 |
| Mobile, AL | $45,110 | $43,250 | $21.69 | 70 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $44,170 | $38,830 | $21.24 | 100 |
| Muskegon, MI | $44,120 | $40,050 | $21.21 | 120 |
| Wichita, KS | $43,700 | $40,770 | $21.01 | 30 |
| Morristown, TN | $42,090 | $43,270 | $20.24 | 40 |
| Greenville, SC | $41,610 | $37,060 | $20.01 | 60 |
Related jobs
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticU.S. average $48,430
- MachinistsU.S. average $59,320
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersU.S. average $56,760
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticU.S. average $48,170
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticU.S. average $45,960
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticU.S. average $50,450
- Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherU.S. average $48,580
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticU.S. average $50,030
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary: questions
Where do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make the most money?
In Spokane, WA, with an average of $71,680 a year, among the 59 metro areas we cover.
What is the average metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary in the U.S.?
$55,490 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $54,430, so half of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earn more than that and half less.
What salary should metal-refining furnace operators and tenders ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders nationwide earn between $46,080 (25th percentile) and $62,810 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays metal-refining furnace operators and tenders the most?
New Jersey, with a statewide average of $68,820 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay the lowest?
Greenville, SC, at $41,610 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4051.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.