Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-4051) earn a median $54,430 a year ($26.17 an hour) in the United States, with 16,780 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Minnesota.
What metal-refining furnace operators and tenders do
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders run the furnaces that melt and refine metal before it is cast, or that make specified grades of steel. Furnace types include electric arc and induction units, open hearth and oxygen furnaces, and gas-, oil-, or coal-fired designs. The operator weighs and charges the raw materials then controls fuel, air, electric current, and cooling water to bring the heat to the required temperature. They watch gauges and judge metal color and fluidity, and they take samples from the molten bath for analysis, using the results to calculate additions that bring the chemistry into specification. When the heat is ready, they operate controls to tap or discharge the metal. Production logs record each heat. Furnaces and equipment are inspected for defects and wear. Heat treating equipment operators are excluded and counted in a separate code.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Backbreaker, Bessemer Converter Blower, Bessemer Converter Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.85 | $22.15 | $26.17 | $30.20 | $35.81 | $26.68 | 16,780 |
| Annual | $39,200 | $46,080 | $54,430 | $62,810 | $74,470 | $55,490 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $21.42 | $24.41 | $36.48 | $38.02 | $38.02 | $31.53 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $44,550 | $50,770 | $75,880 | $79,070 | $79,070 | $65,570 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $25.53 | $29.05 | $36.07 | $38.03 | $38.03 | $33.09 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $53,100 | $60,430 | $75,020 | $79,110 | $79,110 | $68,820 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.52 | $29.46 | $31.94 | $37.63 | $39.26 | $32.42 | 760 | 0.08 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $46,840 | $61,270 | $66,440 | $78,270 | $81,650 | $67,430 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $22.13 | $24.63 | $30.97 | $39.27 | $40.42 | $32.03 | 400 | 0.20 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $46,020 | $51,220 | $64,410 | $81,680 | $84,070 | $66,610 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $23.41 | $23.79 | $30.22 | $41.04 | $44.25 | $32.92 | 330 | 0.09 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $48,690 | $49,480 | $62,850 | $85,370 | $92,050 | $68,470 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.24 | $23.06 | $26.48 | $30.13 | $34.18 | $26.43 | 1,790 | 0.32 | 2.99 |
| Annual | $40,010 | $47,960 | $55,080 | $62,670 | $71,080 | $54,970 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $20.29 | $21.93 | $28.03 | $31.27 | $31.45 | $26.87 | 1,520 | 0.48 | 4.41 |
| Annual | $42,190 | $45,620 | $58,300 | $65,040 | $65,420 | $55,900 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $17.37 | $22.03 | $26.09 | $28.90 | $38.36 | $26.65 | 1,250 | 0.59 | 5.50 |
| Annual | $36,130 | $45,830 | $54,260 | $60,120 | $79,780 | $55,440 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $18.95 | $23.43 | $26.88 | $29.79 | $33.66 | $27.21 | 1,230 | 0.20 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $39,410 | $48,740 | $55,910 | $61,950 | $70,010 | $56,610 | ||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $21.47 | $23.66 | $28.38 | $30.46 | $32.42 | $27.30 | 810 | 0.41 | 3.75 |
| Annual | $44,670 | $49,220 | $59,040 | $63,360 | $67,440 | $56,790 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | Hourly | $23.56 | $23.79 | $41.04 | $41.04 | $44.25 | $34.46 | 240 | 0.95 | 8.78 |
| Annual | $49,000 | $49,480 | $85,370 | $85,370 | $92,050 | $71,680 | ||||
| Utica-Rome, NY | Hourly | $20.37 | $25.37 | $37.29 | $37.63 | $37.63 | $32.30 | 190 | 1.59 | 14.72 |
| Annual | $42,360 | $52,780 | $77,560 | $78,270 | $78,270 | $67,190 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $22.64 | $24.99 | $35.61 | $38.78 | $39.27 | $32.48 | 190 | 0.16 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $47,090 | $51,980 | $74,060 | $80,660 | $81,680 | $67,550 | ||||
| Reading, PA | Hourly | $24.15 | $29.81 | $33.17 | $39.23 | $52.00 | $34.12 | 210 | 1.19 | 11.06 |
| Annual | $50,230 | $62,010 | $68,990 | $81,600 | $108,170 | $70,960 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $21.75 | $22.95 | $32.38 | $32.38 | $34.62 | $28.82 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $45,230 | $47,730 | $67,360 | $67,360 | $72,010 | $59,940 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.87 | $23.71 | $30.37 | $31.27 | $31.27 | $27.99 | 700 | 0.15 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $45,490 | $49,310 | $63,170 | $65,040 | $65,040 | $58,210 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $19.67 | $24.39 | $31.57 | $34.18 | $34.18 | $29.20 | 520 | 0.50 | 4.65 |
| Annual | $40,920 | $50,730 | $65,660 | $71,080 | $71,080 | $60,740 | ||||
| Birmingham, AL | Hourly | $18.61 | $22.72 | $27.04 | $27.08 | $29.39 | $25.62 | 420 | 0.81 | 7.48 |
| Annual | $38,710 | $47,250 | $56,250 | $56,330 | $61,130 | $53,290 | ||||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Hourly | $18.67 | $23.04 | $25.54 | $28.72 | $29.23 | $25.16 | 370 | 0.25 | 2.34 |
| Annual | $38,830 | $47,920 | $53,130 | $59,740 | $60,790 | $52,340 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $18.74 | $23.71 | $29.24 | $29.31 | $33.62 | $27.23 | 320 | 0.29 | 2.70 |
| Annual | $38,980 | $49,310 | $60,810 | $60,960 | $69,930 | $56,640 | ||||
Top industries employing metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing employ 22.6% of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders nationally (3,800 jobs) at a median $59,740 a year ($28.72 an hour), followed by Foundries (21.9%) and Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing (18.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing NAICS 331400 | 3,800 | 22.6% | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| Foundries NAICS 331500 | 3,670 | 21.9% | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing NAICS 331100 | 3,020 | 18.0% | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing NAICS 331300 | 2,420 | 14.4% | $63,360 | $30.46 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 610 | 3.6% | $48,530 | $23.33 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (16,780). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,690 for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in May 2021 and $54,430 in May 2025, with employment of 15,540 and 16,780.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,690 | $22.45 | 15,540 |
| May 2022 | $50,280 | $24.18 | 19,320 |
| May 2023 | $50,250 | $24.16 | 20,870 |
| May 2024 | $55,770 | $26.81 | 20,330 |
| May 2025 | $54,430 | $26.17 | 16,780 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
36 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota profile | $36.48 | $75,880 | $44,550 | $79,070 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.63 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $36.07 | $75,020 | $53,100 | $79,110 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| 3 | New York profile | $31.94 | $66,440 | $46,840 | $81,650 | 760 | 0.08 | 0.72 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $30.97 | $64,410 | $46,020 | $84,070 | 400 | 0.20 | 1.89 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $30.22 | $62,850 | $48,690 | $92,050 | 330 | 0.09 | 0.86 |
| 6 | North Carolina profile | $29.22 | $60,780 | $40,350 | $74,470 | 390 | 0.08 | 0.73 |
| 7 | Utah profile | $29.09 | $60,510 | $45,190 | $78,760 | 330 | 0.19 | 1.77 |
| 8 | Arizona profile | $28.76 | $59,830 | $45,180 | $76,480 | 490 | 0.15 | 1.40 |
| 9 | Kentucky profile | $28.38 | $59,040 | $44,670 | $67,440 | 810 | 0.41 | 3.75 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $28.11 | $58,480 | $45,140 | $75,310 | 240 | 0.07 | 0.60 |
| 11 | California profile | $28.03 | $58,310 | $46,940 | $72,460 | 280 | 0.02 | 0.14 |
| 12 | Indiana profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $42,190 | $65,420 | 1,520 | 0.48 | 4.41 |
| 13 | Tennessee profile | $27.64 | $57,490 | $37,430 | $75,470 | 730 | 0.22 | 2.06 |
| 14 | Iowa profile | $27.42 | $57,030 | $44,090 | $62,660 | 330 | 0.21 | 1.94 |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $27.41 | $57,000 | $36,840 | $74,650 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.24 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | $27.31 | $56,790 | $40,590 | $79,020 | 130 | 0.08 | 0.76 |
| 17 | West Virginia profile | $27.06 | $56,290 | $39,910 | $72,120 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.90 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $26.88 | $55,910 | $39,410 | $70,010 | 1,230 | 0.20 | 1.89 |
| 19 | Missouri profile | $26.67 | $55,480 | $51,250 | $65,120 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| 20 | Ohio profile | $26.48 | $55,080 | $40,010 | $71,080 | 1,790 | 0.32 | 2.99 |
| 21 | Alabama profile | $26.09 | $54,260 | $36,130 | $79,780 | 1,250 | 0.59 | 5.50 |
| 22 | Nebraska profile | $25.39 | $52,800 | $39,480 | $67,070 | 60 | 0.06 | 0.52 |
| 23 | Illinois profile | $24.53 | $51,020 | $44,130 | $63,180 | 590 | 0.10 | 0.90 |
| 24 | Connecticut profile | $24.28 | $50,510 | $37,830 | $67,110 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.34 |
| 25 | New Mexico profile | $24.17 | $50,260 | $38,380 | $65,180 | 60 | 0.07 | 0.69 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $23.94 | $49,780 | $38,260 | $60,790 | 700 | 0.07 | 0.65 |
| 27 | Oklahoma profile | $23.51 | $48,890 | $38,460 | $57,190 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| 28 | Wisconsin profile | $23.20 | $48,260 | $43,930 | $61,640 | 540 | 0.19 | 1.71 |
| 29 | Georgia profile | $22.96 | $47,750 | $36,230 | $60,150 | 230 | 0.05 | 0.44 |
| 30 | Texas profile | $22.44 | $46,670 | $38,250 | $73,930 | 600 | 0.04 | 0.39 |
| 31 | New Hampshire profile | $22.30 | $46,380 | $39,100 | $62,320 | 60 | 0.09 | 0.79 |
| 32 | Michigan profile | $21.59 | $44,900 | $37,310 | $59,140 | 680 | 0.16 | 1.44 |
| 33 | Kansas profile | $21.54 | $44,800 | $36,480 | $55,360 | 100 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| 34 | South Carolina profile | $21.23 | $44,160 | $37,060 | $70,940 | 290 | 0.13 | 1.18 |
| 35 | Arkansas profile | $19.19 | $39,920 | $34,920 | $61,880 | 490 | 0.38 | 3.51 |
| 36 | Mississippi profile | $19.04 | $39,610 | $35,860 | $56,910 | 120 | 0.10 | 0.96 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4051 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.