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Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel. Excludes “Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” (51-4191).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
17,150 | 3.9 % | $20.81 | $43,280 | 1.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $13.41 | $16.28 | $20.31 | $24.89 | $29.52 |
Annual Wage (2) | $27,900 | $33,870 | $42,250 | $51,770 | $61,400 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 3,620 | 5.81 | $21.98 | $45,720 |
Foundries | 3,550 | 2.96 | $19.11 | $39,740 |
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 3,240 | 3.78 | $22.83 | $47,490 |
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 2,610 | 4.33 | $19.92 | $41,440 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | 640 | 0.04 | $18.25 | $37,950 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 3,620 | 5.81 | $21.98 | $45,720 |
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 2,610 | 4.33 | $19.92 | $41,440 |
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 3,240 | 3.78 | $22.83 | $47,490 |
Foundries | 3,550 | 2.96 | $19.11 | $39,740 |
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 400 | 0.69 | $21.72 | $45,170 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Metal Ore Mining | 200 | 0.48 | $25.62 | $53,290 |
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 3,240 | 3.78 | $22.83 | $47,490 |
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 360 | 0.05 | $22.17 | $46,110 |
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 3,620 | 5.81 | $21.98 | $45,720 |
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | (8) | (8) | $21.79 | $45,330 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 1,680 | 0.28 | 2.44 | $23.19 | $48,230 |
Ohio | 1,550 | 0.29 | 2.44 | $17.66 | $36,740 |
Alabama | 1,390 | 0.71 | 6.04 | $16.84 | $35,030 |
Indiana | 1,190 | 0.39 | 3.32 | $20.41 | $42,440 |
Texas | 740 | 0.06 | 0.51 | $18.55 | $38,590 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 1,390 | 0.71 | 6.04 | $16.84 | $35,030 |
Indiana | 1,190 | 0.39 | 3.32 | $20.41 | $42,440 |
Kentucky | 570 | 0.30 | 2.56 | $21.42 | $44,550 |
West Virginia | 210 | 0.29 | 2.50 | $24.73 | $51,430 |
Ohio | 1,550 | 0.29 | 2.44 | $17.66 | $36,740 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Utah | 410 | 0.27 | 2.35 | $26.60 | $55,330 |
Oregon | 410 | 0.21 | 1.82 | $26.43 | $54,970 |
Nevada | 160 | 0.11 | 0.98 | $25.39 | $52,820 |
South Carolina | 340 | 0.16 | 1.39 | $25.29 | $52,610 |
Massachusetts | 100 | 0.03 | 0.23 | $24.76 | $51,510 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 770 | 0.16 | 1.41 | $21.72 | $45,170 |
Reading, PA | 420 | 2.37 | 20.31 | $25.29 | $52,610 |
Pittsburgh, PA | 410 | 0.36 | 3.04 | $22.84 | $47,510 |
Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 400 | 0.38 | 3.25 | $16.25 | $33,800 |
Salt Lake City, UT | 360 | 0.49 | 4.20 | $27.60 | $57,410 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 320 | 0.26 | 2.21 | $26.80 | $55,740 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 260 | 0.13 | 1.12 | $21.42 | $44,560 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 230 | 0.02 | 0.20 | $24.31 | $50,570 |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 220 | 0.18 | 1.56 | $28.54 | $59,360 |
Mobile, AL | 210 | 1.20 | 10.25 | $26.12 | $54,320 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany, OR | 150 | 3.41 | 29.25 | $24.99 | $51,970 |
Reading, PA | 420 | 2.37 | 20.31 | $25.29 | $52,610 |
Muskegon, MI | 120 | 1.99 | 17.01 | $22.59 | $46,990 |
Canton-Massillon, OH | 210 | 1.22 | 10.49 | $18.91 | $39,340 |
Mobile, AL | 210 | 1.20 | 10.25 | $26.12 | $54,320 |
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | 200 | 0.93 | 8.01 | $18.01 | $37,470 |
Duluth, MN-WI | 80 | 0.64 | 5.51 | $24.91 | $51,810 |
Salt Lake City, UT | 360 | 0.49 | 4.20 | $27.60 | $57,410 |
Peoria, IL | 80 | 0.46 | 3.91 | $24.75 | $51,490 |
Fort Wayne, IN | 90 | 0.43 | 3.71 | $20.72 | $43,100 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rockford, IL | (8) | (8) | (8) | $30.52 | $63,470 |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 220 | 0.18 | 1.56 | $28.54 | $59,360 |
Salt Lake City, UT | 360 | 0.49 | 4.20 | $27.60 | $57,410 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 320 | 0.26 | 2.21 | $26.80 | $55,740 |
Mobile, AL | 210 | 1.20 | 10.25 | $26.12 | $54,320 |
Reading, PA | 420 | 2.37 | 20.31 | $25.29 | $52,610 |
Albany, OR | 150 | 3.41 | 29.25 | $24.99 | $51,970 |
Duluth, MN-WI | 80 | 0.64 | 5.51 | $24.91 | $51,810 |
Peoria, IL | 80 | 0.46 | 3.91 | $24.75 | $51,490 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 230 | 0.02 | 0.20 | $24.31 | $50,570 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 1.12 | 9.62 | $19.22 | $39,980 |
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.00 | 8.55 | $21.99 | $45,730 |
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 0.83 | 7.09 | $17.32 | $36,030 |
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.24 | 10.64 | $19.24 | $40,020 |
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 160 | 0.47 | 4.02 | $16.64 | $34,620 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.24 | 10.64 | $19.24 | $40,020 |
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 1.12 | 9.62 | $19.22 | $39,980 |
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.00 | 8.55 | $21.99 | $45,730 |
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 0.83 | 7.09 | $17.32 | $36,030 |
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.75 | 6.39 | $21.92 | $45,600 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.69 | 5.95 | $25.17 | $52,350 |
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.60 | 5.14 | $25.13 | $52,260 |
Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $22.77 | $47,370 |
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.00 | 8.55 | $21.99 | $45,730 |
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.75 | 6.39 | $21.92 | $45,600 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: July 6, 2020