Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Career, Salary and Skills
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $54,430 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 16,780. Wage data is published for 95 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
51-4051.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$54,430
Hourly median
$26.17
Employment
16,780
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Operation and Control | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Active Learning | 2.88 | 2.12 |
Typical tasks
- Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
- Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
- Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
- Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
- Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.
- Record production data, and maintain production logs.
- Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
- Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Process control software
- Process safety management software
- Production tracking system software
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in OHMedian $55,080 · Employment 1,790
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in INMedian $58,300 · Employment 1,520
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in ALMedian $54,260 · Employment 1,250
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in PAMedian $55,910 · Employment 1,230
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in KYMedian $59,040 · Employment 810
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in NYMedian $66,440 · Employment 760
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in TNMedian $57,490 · Employment 730
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $63,170 · Employment 700
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in FLMedian $49,780 · Employment 700
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in MIMedian $44,900 · Employment 680
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in TXMedian $46,670 · Employment 600
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in ILMedian $51,020 · Employment 590
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.