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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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)
19,320 3.3 % $ 25.70 $ 53,450 0.8 %

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

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 17.53 $ 20.05 $ 24.18 $ 30.42 $ 37.54
Annual Wage (2) $ 36,460 $ 41,700 $ 50,280 $ 63,280 $ 78,090


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)
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 6,320 7.82 $ 30.39 $ 63,210
Foundries 3,420 3.25 $ 21.61 $ 44,950
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,170 5.49 $ 24.72 $ 51,420
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,310 3.95 $ 25.47 $ 52,980
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 550 0.43 $ 21.56 $ 44,850

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)
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 6,320 7.82 $ 30.39 $ 63,210
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,170 5.49 $ 24.72 $ 51,420
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,310 3.95 $ 25.47 $ 52,980
Foundries 3,420 3.25 $ 21.61 $ 44,950
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 310 0.56 $ 24.61 $ 51,180

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

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing 80 0.09 $ 33.24 $ 69,150
Metal Ore Mining 100 0.24 $ 30.67 $ 63,800
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 6,320 7.82 $ 30.39 $ 63,210
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 40 0.04 $ 25.52 $ 53,090
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,310 3.95 $ 25.47 $ 52,980


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.



Map of employment of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by state, May 2022


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)
Indiana 4,290 1.39 10.64 $ 32.62 $ 67,860
Pennsylvania 1,740 0.30 2.29 $ 24.36 $ 50,680
Ohio 1,380 0.26 1.97 $ 24.40 $ 50,750
Alabama 1,030 0.51 3.93 $ 20.22 $ 42,050
Tennessee 1,010 0.33 2.49 $ 23.25 $ 48,360


Map of location quotient of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by state, May 2022


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)
Indiana 4,290 1.39 10.64 $ 32.62 $ 67,860
Alabama 1,030 0.51 3.93 $ 20.22 $ 42,050
Kentucky 780 0.41 3.15 $ 25.48 $ 52,990
Tennessee 1,010 0.33 2.49 $ 23.25 $ 48,360
Wisconsin 910 0.32 2.47 $ 23.97 $ 49,860


Map of annual mean wages of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by state, May 2022


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 220 0.10 0.79 $ 33.25 $ 69,160
Indiana 4,290 1.39 10.64 $ 32.62 $ 67,860
Utah 470 0.29 2.21 $ 30.10 $ 62,610
Oregon 260 0.14 1.04 $ 29.67 $ 61,710
Washington 320 0.09 0.72 $ 29.17 $ 60,660



Map of employment of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by area, May 2022


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)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,760 0.62 4.78 $ 36.08 $ 75,050
Pittsburgh, PA 590 0.56 4.29 $ 24.37 $ 50,690
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 0.07 0.53 $ 22.36 $ 46,510
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 360 0.33 2.56 $ 25.43 $ 52,900
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 340 0.35 2.66 $ 24.74 $ 51,460
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 310 0.39 2.95 $ 23.14 $ 48,140
Fort Wayne, IN 300 1.38 10.54 $ 28.79 $ 59,890
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 290 0.16 1.20 $ 20.97 $ 43,620
Reading, PA 290 1.75 13.39 $ 27.64 $ 57,480
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 210 0.15 1.18 $ 24.52 $ 51,000


Map of location quotient of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by area, May 2022


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)
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 100 2.45 18.77 $ 20.02 $ 41,640
Muskegon, MI 110 1.77 13.51 $ 20.06 $ 41,720
Reading, PA 290 1.75 13.39 $ 27.64 $ 57,480
Fort Wayne, IN 300 1.38 10.54 $ 28.79 $ 59,890
Evansville, IN-KY 200 1.33 10.15 $ 26.92 $ 55,990
Canton-Massillon, OH 200 1.22 9.32 $ 26.04 $ 54,170
Jackson, TN 60 0.93 7.16 $ 22.61 $ 47,020
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 40 0.91 6.94 $ 18.36 $ 38,180
Columbus, GA-AL 100 0.87 6.66 $ 18.00 $ 37,450
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 140 0.68 5.20 $ 22.01 $ 45,790


Map of annual mean wages of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by area, May 2022


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)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,760 0.62 4.78 $ 36.08 $ 75,050
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 140 0.12 0.93 $ 29.78 $ 61,950
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 120 0.19 1.44 $ 29.32 $ 60,980
Fort Wayne, IN 300 1.38 10.54 $ 28.79 $ 59,890
Syracuse, NY 30 0.12 0.92 $ 27.83 $ 57,890
Reading, PA 290 1.75 13.39 $ 27.64 $ 57,480
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 100 0.05 0.39 $ 27.56 $ 57,330
Knoxville, TN 190 0.48 3.68 $ 26.93 $ 56,020
Evansville, IN-KY 200 1.33 10.15 $ 26.92 $ 55,990
Green Bay, WI 80 0.47 3.63 $ 26.90 $ 55,950

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 330 1.58 12.09 $ 26.39 $ 54,890
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 230 1.48 11.32 (8) (8)
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 210 1.16 8.88 $ 23.41 $ 48,700
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 190 0.92 7.05 $ 23.87 $ 49,650
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 150 0.48 3.66 $ 25.19 $ 52,390

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)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 330 1.58 12.09 $ 26.39 $ 54,890
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 230 1.48 11.32 (8) (8)
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 210 1.16 8.88 $ 23.41 $ 48,700
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 140 1.02 7.80 $ 22.65 $ 47,100
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 190 0.92 7.05 $ 23.87 $ 49,650

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)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 330 1.58 12.09 $ 26.39 $ 54,890
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 150 0.48 3.66 $ 25.19 $ 52,390
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 190 0.92 7.05 $ 23.87 $ 49,650
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 100 0.48 3.64 $ 23.71 $ 49,330
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 60 0.42 3.25 $ 23.50 $ 48,880


About May 2022 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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023