The median pay for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders is $54,430 a year ($26.17/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 2.9% through 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-4051
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $54,430a year, or $26.17/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $74K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -2.9%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−2.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −2.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,40016,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202516.8K
- Projected 203516.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 16.8K Projected 2035 16.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school35.9%
- High school64.1%
Highest education held by metal-refining furnace operators and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 35.9% High school 64.1%
Also advertised as: Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Central Melt Specialist, Control Room Operator, Electric Melt Operator, Furnace Operator.
Pay
How much do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders make?
Every metal-refining furnace operator and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$54,430
Middle half earn $46,080 to $62,810
- 10th
- $39,200
- 25th
- $46,080
- 75th
- $62,810
- 90th
- $74,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,200 |
| 25th | $46,080 |
| Median | $54,430 |
| 75th | $62,810 |
| 90th | $74,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $54,430
- Median hourly wage
- $26.17/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $55,490
- People employed
- 16,780
Versus all US occupations
At $54,430, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders earn 7% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,450 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 13% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $74,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,200, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 27% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Minnesota pays the most at $75,880, and still leads at $76,941 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Minnesota | $75,880 | $76,941 | 200 |
| 2New Jersey | $75,020 | $68,949 | 150 |
| 3New York | $66,440 | $61,564 | 760 |
| 4Oregon | $64,410 | $62,316 | 400 |
| 5Washington | $62,850 | $58,731 | 330 |
| 6North Carolina | $60,780 | $64,436 | 390 |
| 7Utah | $60,510 | $61,205 | 330 |
| 8Arizona | $59,830 | $59,428 | 490 |
| 9Kentucky | $59,040 | $65,484 | 810 |
| 10Massachusetts | $58,480 | $55,297 | 240 |
Job outlook
Is Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -2.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | −2.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders to change -2.9% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, 8.3% of the 16,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of metal and plastic machine workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of metal and plastic machine workers varies by occupation (see table).
One of the most important factors influencing employment of these workers is the use of laborsaving machinery. Many firms are continuing to expand the use of technologies, such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools and robots, to improve quality and lower production costs. The use of CNC equipment requires CNC tool programmers instead of machine setters, operators, and tenders. Therefore, demand for most manual tool operators and tenders is likely to be reduced, while demand for CNC tool programmers is expected to be strong.
Getting in
How to become a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender
Metal and plastic workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive 1 year of on-the-job training. Computer numerically controlled (CNC) tool programmers typically need postsecondary education.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as metal-refining furnace operators and tenders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)64.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma35.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 64.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 35.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender do?
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.
Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate equipment that cuts, shapes, and forms metal and plastic materials or pieces.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
- 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.
- Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
- Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
- Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
- Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
- Kindle fires, and shovel fuel and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operators.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most metal and plastic machine workers are employed full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Because many manufacturers run their machinery for extended periods, evening and weekend work is also common.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Writing2.8
- Mathematics2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Equipment Maintenance2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
- Time Management2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Industrial control software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.9
- Conventional4.0
- Investigative2.8
- Artistic1.1
- Social1.0
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
$48,750median a year
Most earn $35K to $66K
−9.5%High school - Production
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender
$48,040median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
+2.6%High school - Production
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$51,610median a year
Most earn $36K to $80K
−5.7%High school - Production
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$47,920median a year
Most earn $37K to $67K
−8.9%High school - Production
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender
$43,530median a year
Most earn $34K to $59K
+3.4%High school - Production
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$45,760median a year
Most earn $35K to $63K
+1.5%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with metal-refining furnace operators and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender$54,430
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender | $54,430 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender appears on
Questions
Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders make?
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders earn a median of $54,430 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 7% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.17/hr. The middle half earn between $46,080 and $62,810. The top 10% earn $74,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 64.1% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.9% over 2025–2035, a loss of 500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender do?
Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate equipment that cuts, shapes, and forms metal and plastic materials or pieces. A core O*NET task: inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders are Minnesota ($75,880), New Jersey ($75,020), New York ($66,440) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender?
O*NET scores Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.