Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
SOC code 51-4051 · O*NET-SOC 51-4051.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$54,430
a year
Hourly
$26.17
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$55,490
$26.68 per hour
Middle 50%
$46,080 – $62,810
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$39,200 – $74,470
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
16,780
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $39,200
- $18.85/hr
- 25th percentile
- $46,080
- $22.15/hr
- Median percentile
- $54,430
- $26.17/hr
- 75th percentile
- $62,810
- $30.20/hr
- 90th percentile
- $74,470
- $35.81/hr
What do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
- 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.
- Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
- Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 64% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)64%
- Less than a High School Diploma36%
Common questions
How much does a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earn?
The national median is $54,430 a year. The full range runs from $39,200 at the 10th percentile to $74,470 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Mechanical3.7/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Education and Training3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.8/5
- Chemistry2.8/5
- Mathematics2.7/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis.