51
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders is a notable career in the 51 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 51-4051 |
| title | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders |
| onet code | 51-4051.00 |
| 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 51 |
| tot emp | 20,330 |
| a mean | 57,290 |
| a median | 55,770 |
| a pct10 | 38,760 |
| a pct25 | 46,550 |
| a pct75 | 65,070 |
| a pct90 | 80,280 |
| h mean | 27 |
| h median | 26 |
The day-to-day work of a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders typically centers on regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, and Monitoring. Across the top 9 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.25 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working metal-refining furnace operators and tenders, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (64.1%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Indiana at $75,630 and lowest in Mississippi at $38,370 — a 2.0× spread. The top five states (Indiana, Utah, New York, Iowa, Oregon) average $67,366. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $75,630 | $71,700 | $49,180 | $86,340 | 3,560 |
| Utah | $70,450 | $64,800 | $46,560 | $76,290 | 520 |
| New York | $64,350 | $64,850 | $45,370 | $79,090 | 750 |
| Iowa | $64,080 | $62,520 | $41,510 | $74,250 | 380 |
| Oregon | $62,320 | $62,240 | $44,350 | $78,440 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $62,130 | $63,880 | $48,570 | $76,840 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,200 | $57,560 | $43,640 | $66,960 | 2,240 |
| Washington | $59,170 | $62,510 | $42,420 | $89,380 | 300 |
| California | $58,220 | $59,120 | $41,960 | $77,330 | 540 |
| Kansas | $57,470 | $58,680 | $54,290 | $65,890 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $57,070 | $57,470 | $40,710 | $67,540 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $56,870 | $58,050 | $43,370 | $76,340 | 40 |
| Missouri | $56,160 | $54,970 | $47,280 | $65,240 | 260 |
| Minnesota | $55,720 | $60,900 | $43,170 | $76,590 | 240 |
| Arizona | $54,550 | $53,750 | $36,610 | $67,700 | 490 |
| Illinois | $54,200 | $54,220 | $37,590 | $67,330 | 330 |
| Georgia | $51,400 | $51,430 | $45,120 | $58,360 | 200 |
| West Virginia | $51,150 | $48,950 | $38,590 | $57,550 | 140 |
| Ohio | $50,790 | $53,730 | $41,920 | $65,070 | 2,240 |
| Nevada | $50,590 | $58,590 | $40,610 | $85,260 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $50,100 | $53,810 | $38,170 | $69,390 | 690 |
| Tennessee | $49,810 | $54,140 | $38,380 | $73,100 | 1,190 |
| Florida | $48,980 | $49,250 | $37,030 | $58,880 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $48,510 | $52,810 | $41,850 | $74,230 | 140 |
| Colorado | $48,150 | $51,900 | $46,270 | $62,480 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $47,980 | $50,960 | $36,310 | $69,630 | 590 |
| Alabama | $47,520 | $51,970 | $37,780 | $60,420 | 910 |
| New Hampshire | $46,960 | $51,970 | $42,390 | $73,040 | 50 |
| Nebraska | $46,760 | $48,570 | $38,480 | $67,610 | 80 |
| Michigan | $46,290 | $46,390 | $36,250 | $58,060 | 860 |
| Virginia | $46,120 | $51,020 | $38,160 | $72,230 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $45,990 | $47,250 | $37,870 | $55,260 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $45,840 | $46,750 | $36,410 | $58,960 | 120 |
| Rhode Island | $45,740 | $44,080 | $31,290 | $48,280 | 110 |
| Texas | $45,170 | $48,540 | $37,440 | $69,950 | 560 |
| North Carolina | $43,720 | $44,610 | $35,710 | $53,930 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $40,220 | $45,140 | $35,280 | $67,210 | 430 |
| South Carolina | $39,780 | $45,160 | $35,070 | $68,710 | 290 |
| Mississippi | $38,370 | $42,510 | $31,160 | $55,120 | 130 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter) or Automatic Furnace Operator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders compares to others in the 51 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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