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Furnace operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$54,430median pay per year, or $26.17 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,200lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,08025th percentile
  3. $54,430median
  4. $62,81075th percentile
  5. $74,470top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Furnace operators in metal refining earned a median of $54,430 a year, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Entry typically needs a high school diploma and moderate-term on-the-job training[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.9%[5]
Openings per year
1,400[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[3]

How much do furnace operators make?

BLS counts this job as Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders. In May 2025 the median wage was $54,430 a year, or $26.17 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) wage was $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[2].

Here is the range from the 10th to the 90th percentile:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][8] $39,200 $18.85
25th[4][8] $46,080 $22.15
75th[4][8] $62,810 $30.20
90th[4][8] $74,470 $35.81

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $39,200, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $74,470[4][9]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

These wages cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 16,780 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Minnesota had the highest median annual wage at $75,880, followed by New Jersey at $75,020 and New York at $66,440[12]. Arkansas ($39,920) and Mississippi ($39,610) were at the bottom of the list of 36 states with published data[12].

Ohio had the most jobs at 1,790, then Indiana at 1,520, Alabama at 1,250, Pennsylvania at 1,230 and Kentucky at 810[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA had the highest median at $85,370, followed by Utica-Rome, NY at $77,560 and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA at $74,060[14]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the most jobs at 700, with a median of $63,170[15]. Cleveland, OH was next with 520 jobs and a median of $65,660[15].

Show median pay in 36 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Minnesota[12]$75,880200
New Jersey$75,020150
New York$66,440760
Oregon$64,410400
Washington$62,850330
North Carolina$60,780390
Utah$60,510330
Arizona$59,830490
Kentucky$59,040810
Massachusetts$58,480240
California$58,310280
Indiana$58,3001,520
Tennessee$57,490730
Iowa$57,030330
Virginia$57,000110
Nevada$56,790130
West Virginia$56,29070
Pennsylvania$55,9101,230
Missouri$55,480200
Ohio$55,0801,790
Alabama$54,2601,250
Nebraska$52,80060
Illinois$51,020590
Connecticut$50,51060
New Mexico$50,26060
Florida$49,780700
Oklahoma$48,890110
Wisconsin$48,260540
Georgia$47,750230
Texas$46,670600
New Hampshire$46,38060
Michigan$44,900680
Kansas$44,800100
South Carolina$44,160290
Arkansas$39,920490
Mississippi$39,610120

How to become a furnace operator

BLS gives this typical path:

The training details below come from a BLS handbook profile that covers a wider group of metal and plastic machine workers, not only furnace operators[16]. That profile says trainees usually begin by watching and helping experienced workers. Later they take on harder tasks[17]. The time depends on how complex the equipment is. Some workers learn basic machine operations in a few months, and others may train for up to 1 year[18].

The same profile says certification can show competence and help with advancement[19]. Our facts do not name a specific certification for furnace operators.

What furnace operators do

Furnace operators run or tend furnaces that melt and refine metal before casting, or that make specified types of steel[20]. Common tasks reported to O*NET include:

Workers report job titles such as melter, furnace operator and control room operator[22].

Where they work

The workplace details here also come from the wider metal and plastic machine workers profile[16]. Fabricated metal product manufacturing was the largest employer group in 2025, with 25% of those workers[23]. These workers often run powerful machines that can be dangerous, so they follow safety rules and wear protective gear[24]. Most are employed full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[25]. Because many plants run machines for long stretches, evening and weekend work is common[25].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,800 to 16,300 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[26]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[5].

BLS names productivity change as a factor. Modern furnaces use more automation to monitor and control processes, so more output can be made with the same amount of labor[27].

Still, BLS projects about 1,400 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings include workers who leave the job, not only new positions[6]. Each year, 3.2% of workers leave the labor force and 5.8% move to a different occupation[28].

Is it a good fit?

The job pays a median above the all-occupations figure, at $54,430 against $50,980[1][2]. It does not need related experience, but it does call for moderate-term on-the-job training after high school[3]. Employment is projected to dip, and automation is one reason[5][27]. Openings are still expected each year[6]. The wider profile also notes that workers need to be comfortable with machines and able to stand for long periods[29][30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a furnace operator make an hour?
The median wage for metal-refining furnace operators was $26.17 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $26.68[1][7].
What education do you need to be a furnace operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[3].
How long does it take to learn furnace operation?
The wider BLS profile for metal and plastic machine workers says some learn basic operations in a few months, and others may train for up to 1 year[16][18].
Is furnace operator work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[5][26]. About 1,400 openings a year are still projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for furnace operators?
Minnesota had the highest median annual wage at $75,880, followed by New Jersey at $75,020[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in the US was $54,430 per year and $26.17 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $39,200, 25th percentile $46,080, 75th percentile $62,810, 90th percentile $74,470. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders is projected to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,800 to 16,300 jobs (a change of -500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,400 openings for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders was $55,490 per year and $26.68 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $18.85, 25th percentile $22.15, 75th percentile $30.20, 90th percentile $35.81. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 16,780 people were employed as Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders jobs: Ohio 1,790; Indiana 1,520; Alabama 1,250; Pennsylvania 1,230; Kentucky 810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $85,370; Utica-Rome, NY $77,560; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $74,060; Reading, PA $68,990; Cleveland, OH $65,660; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $63,170; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,170; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $61,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 700 (median $63,170); Cleveland, OH 520 (median $65,660); Birmingham, AL 420 (median $56,250); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 370 (median $53,130); Pittsburgh, PA 320 (median $60,810); Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 240 (median $61,780). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Metal and Plastic Machine Workers" covers Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET description of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET task list for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 51-4051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Central Melt Specialist, Control Room Operator, Electric Melt Operator, Furnace Operator, Melt Room Operator, Melter. O*NET OnLine
  23. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  27. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: Productivity change - share decreases as modern furnaces incorporate more automation in monitoring and controlling of processes and systems. These changes are expected to increase productivity, allowing more output to be produced with the same amount of labor. BLS Employment Projections
  28. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.