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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

51-4051 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

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).


National estimates for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Industry profile for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Geographic profile for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

National estimates for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
15,290 5.1 % $ 22.12 $ 46,000 1.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 14.30 $ 17.21 $ 21.45 $ 26.81 $ 31.04
Annual Wage (2) $ 29,750 $ 35,790 $ 44,610 $ 55,770 $ 64,570


Industry profile for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 4,350 7.37 $ 23.19 $ 48,240
Foundries 2,830 2.66 $ 20.20 $ 42,010
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 2,710 3.26 $ 24.01 $ 49,930
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,040 3.66 $ 21.20 $ 44,100
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 470 0.10 $ 20.57 $ 42,780

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 4,350 7.37 $ 23.19 $ 48,240
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,040 3.66 $ 21.20 $ 44,100
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 2,710 3.26 $ 24.01 $ 49,930
Foundries 2,830 2.66 $ 20.20 $ 42,010
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 350 0.64 $ 22.91 $ 47,650

Top paying industries for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Metal Ore Mining 190 0.47 $ 26.50 $ 55,120
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (8) (8) $ 24.42 $ 50,780
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 2,710 3.26 $ 24.01 $ 49,930
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 290 0.04 $ 23.81 $ 49,530
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 4,350 7.37 $ 23.19 $ 48,240


Geographic profile for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pennsylvania 1,460 0.26 2.41 $ 24.06 $ 50,050
Alabama 1,040 0.55 4.99 $ 17.71 $ 36,830
Ohio 930 0.18 1.65 $ 18.86 $ 39,240
California 780 0.05 0.43 $ 20.32 $ 42,270
Texas 760 0.06 0.57 $ 19.81 $ 41,200




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alabama 1,040 0.55 4.99 $ 17.71 $ 36,830
Utah 490 0.33 3.00 $ 26.94 $ 56,030
West Virginia 190 0.29 2.68 $ 26.27 $ 54,640
Pennsylvania 1,460 0.26 2.41 $ 24.06 $ 50,050
Iowa 390 0.26 2.40 $ 21.46 $ 44,650




Top paying states for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
South Carolina 350 0.17 1.57 $ 31.99 $ 66,530
Utah 490 0.33 3.00 $ 26.94 $ 56,030
Oregon 270 0.15 1.35 $ 26.56 $ 55,250
Nevada 150 0.12 1.08 $ 26.37 $ 54,840
West Virginia 190 0.29 2.68 $ 26.27 $ 54,640





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
St. Louis, MO-IL 430 0.33 3.00 $ 22.42 $ 46,640
Reading, PA 420 2.52 22.92 $ 26.80 $ 55,750
Pittsburgh, PA 380 0.36 3.25 $ 24.17 $ 50,270
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 350 0.19 1.72 $ 26.74 $ 55,610
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 340 0.08 0.70 $ 22.71 $ 47,230
Salt Lake City, UT 310 0.43 3.89 $ 27.64 $ 57,490
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 230 0.67 6.11 $ 33.94 $ 70,600
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 200 0.03 0.31 $ 21.41 $ 44,530
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 190 0.05 0.49 $ 18.66 $ 38,820
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 190 0.13 1.15 $ 19.68 $ 40,940




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Reading, PA 420 2.52 22.92 $ 26.80 $ 55,750
Muskegon, MI 100 1.76 16.04 $ 22.47 $ 46,730
Morristown, TN 40 1.01 9.23 (8) (8)
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 230 0.67 6.11 $ 33.94 $ 70,600
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 120 0.61 5.51 $ 18.95 $ 39,420
Salt Lake City, UT 310 0.43 3.89 $ 27.64 $ 57,490
Fort Wayne, IN 80 0.41 3.70 $ 22.48 $ 46,760
Longview, TX 40 0.40 3.63 $ 17.36 $ 36,100
Pittsburgh, PA 380 0.36 3.25 $ 24.17 $ 50,270
St. Louis, MO-IL 430 0.33 3.00 $ 22.42 $ 46,640




Top paying metropolitan areas for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 230 0.67 6.11 $ 33.94 $ 70,600
Rockford, IL (8) (8) (8) $ 30.39 $ 63,210
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 170 0.15 1.34 $ 28.88 $ 60,080
Salt Lake City, UT 310 0.43 3.89 $ 27.64 $ 57,490
Reading, PA 420 2.52 22.92 $ 26.80 $ 55,750
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 350 0.19 1.72 $ 26.74 $ 55,610
Duluth, MN-WI (8) (8) (8) $ 25.88 $ 53,830
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (8) (8) (8) $ 25.48 $ 53,010
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (8) (8) (8) $ 25.43 $ 52,900
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 160 0.33 2.96 $ 25.21 $ 52,440

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 210 1.06 9.62 $ 21.65 $ 45,030
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 210 0.98 8.89 $ 22.16 $ 46,100
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 160 1.27 11.52 $ 19.52 $ 40,590
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 150 0.77 7.02 $ 18.77 $ 39,040
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 140 1.53 13.91 $ 26.67 $ 55,480

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 140 1.53 13.91 $ 26.67 $ 55,480
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 160 1.27 11.52 $ 19.52 $ 40,590
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 210 1.06 9.62 $ 21.65 $ 45,030
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 210 0.98 8.89 $ 22.16 $ 46,100
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 120 0.79 7.18 $ 22.13 $ 46,030

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 60 0.34 3.07 $ 26.76 $ 55,660
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 140 1.53 13.91 $ 26.67 $ 55,480
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 210 0.98 8.89 $ 22.16 $ 46,100
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 120 0.79 7.18 $ 22.13 $ 46,030
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 210 1.06 9.62 $ 21.65 $ 45,030


About May 2020 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

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 OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021