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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
20,870 4.8 % $ 26.13 $ 54,340 0.9 %

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

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 17.87 $ 21.19 $ 24.16 $ 30.69 $ 39.68
Annual Wage (2) $ 37,180 $ 44,080 $ 50,250 $ 63,820 $ 82,530


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 6,650 7.92 $ 29.67 $ 61,720
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,510 5.72 $ 26.70 $ 55,540
Foundries 3,500 3.26 $ 23.17 $ 48,190
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,390 4.01 $ 26.33 $ 54,760
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) 970 0.06 $ 17.34 $ 36,060

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 6,650 7.92 $ 29.67 $ 61,720
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,510 5.72 $ 26.70 $ 55,540
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,390 4.01 $ 26.33 $ 54,760
Foundries 3,500 3.26 $ 23.17 $ 48,190
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 380 0.65 $ 25.35 $ 52,730

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 100 0.24 $ 32.42 $ 67,430
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 50 0.06 $ 29.89 $ 62,180
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 6,650 7.92 $ 29.67 $ 61,720
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,510 5.72 $ 26.70 $ 55,540
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2,390 4.01 $ 26.33 $ 54,760


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 2023


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 4,210 1.33 9.71 $ 33.33 $ 69,320
Ohio 2,620 0.48 3.49 $ 24.91 $ 51,800
Pennsylvania 1,530 0.26 1.87 $ 25.96 $ 53,990
Michigan 1,210 0.28 2.03 $ 21.20 $ 44,100
Tennessee 990 0.31 2.24 $ 23.16 $ 48,170


Map of location quotient of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by state, May 2023


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 4,210 1.33 9.71 $ 33.33 $ 69,320
Ohio 2,620 0.48 3.49 $ 24.91 $ 51,800
Alabama 960 0.47 3.40 $ 21.18 $ 44,060
Kentucky 690 0.35 2.55 $ 25.62 $ 53,290
Tennessee 990 0.31 2.24 $ 23.16 $ 48,170


Map of annual mean wages of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by state, May 2023


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)
Indiana 4,210 1.33 9.71 $ 33.33 $ 69,320
Utah 430 0.26 1.86 $ 31.85 $ 66,250
Oregon 270 0.14 1.03 $ 31.17 $ 64,830
New York 360 0.04 0.28 $ 29.08 $ 60,490
Washington 440 0.13 0.91 $ 27.92 $ 58,070



Map of employment of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by area, May 2023


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 2,530 0.56 4.08 $ 37.50 $ 78,010
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 540 0.50 3.65 $ 26.69 $ 55,510
Pittsburgh, PA 540 0.50 3.67 $ 25.14 $ 52,290
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 500 0.26 1.93 $ 20.34 $ 42,310
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 440 0.44 3.23 $ 26.71 $ 55,560
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 400 0.06 0.47 $ 25.04 $ 52,070
Canton-Massillon, OH 370 2.32 16.85 $ 25.17 $ 52,360
Reading, PA 310 1.80 13.07 $ 30.28 $ 62,990
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 290 0.57 4.18 $ 19.79 $ 41,170
Fort Wayne, IN 290 1.29 9.40 $ 28.13 $ 58,510


Map of location quotient of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by area, May 2023


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)
Muskegon, MI 210 3.35 24.38 $ 21.51 $ 44,740
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 100 2.50 18.21 $ 20.91 $ 43,490
Canton-Massillon, OH 370 2.32 16.85 $ 25.17 $ 52,360
Albany, OR 100 2.06 14.96 (8) (8)
Reading, PA 310 1.80 13.07 $ 30.28 $ 62,990
Evansville, IN-KY 250 1.64 11.96 $ 28.59 $ 59,470
Fort Wayne, IN 290 1.29 9.40 $ 28.13 $ 58,510
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 50 1.12 8.17 $ 19.91 $ 41,420
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 210 1.02 7.41 $ 22.75 $ 47,330
Jackson, TN 60 0.83 6.06 $ 23.19 $ 48,240


Map of annual mean wages of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders by area, May 2023


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 2,530 0.56 4.08 $ 37.50 $ 78,010
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 150 0.13 0.93 $ 30.95 $ 64,370
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 90 0.13 0.97 $ 30.52 $ 63,470
Reading, PA 310 1.80 13.07 $ 30.28 $ 62,990
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 40 0.27 1.95 $ 29.80 $ 61,980
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 100 0.01 0.08 $ 29.68 $ 61,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 80 0.03 0.24 $ 29.18 $ 60,690
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 150 0.83 6.02 $ 29.13 $ 60,600
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 190 0.10 0.73 $ 28.80 $ 59,910
Knoxville, TN 170 0.42 3.08 $ 28.79 $ 59,880

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 1.54 11.17 $ 26.60 $ 55,330
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 250 0.78 5.67 $ 25.34 $ 52,700
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 230 1.24 9.01 $ 24.38 $ 50,710
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.28 9.33 $ 26.29 $ 54,680
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 200 3.00 21.83 $ 19.92 $ 41,440

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)
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 200 3.00 21.83 $ 19.92 $ 41,440
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 330 1.54 11.17 $ 26.60 $ 55,330
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.28 9.33 $ 26.29 $ 54,680
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 230 1.24 9.01 $ 24.38 $ 50,710
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 110 0.81 5.89 $ 23.78 $ 49,450

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 1.54 11.17 $ 26.60 $ 55,330
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.28 9.33 $ 26.29 $ 54,680
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 250 0.78 5.67 $ 25.34 $ 52,700
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 170 0.80 5.85 $ 25.04 $ 52,090
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 100 0.66 4.78 $ 24.64 $ 51,260


About May 2023 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 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024