Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

51-4051 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

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. Excludes "Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic" (51-4191).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
18,050 4.4 % $19.27 $40,070 1.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $11.94 $14.97 $18.60 $22.34 $28.12
Annual Wage (2) $24,840 $31,140 $38,680 $46,470 $58,500


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 4,700 5.35 $22.07 $45,910
Foundries 4,260 3.59 $17.52 $36,450
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 3,390 6.16 $18.37 $38,210
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,050 5.13 $18.53 $38,530
Metal Ore Mining 330 0.88 $21.00 $43,680

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 3,390 6.16 $18.37 $38,210
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 4,700 5.35 $22.07 $45,910
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 3,050 5.13 $18.53 $38,530
Foundries 4,260 3.59 $17.52 $36,450
Metal Ore Mining 330 0.88 $21.00 $43,680

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (8) (8) $30.86 $64,190
Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (8) (8) $26.46 $55,050
Ship and Boat Building (8) (8) $25.89 $53,850
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 4,700 5.35 $22.07 $45,910
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 300 0.55 $21.88 $45,520


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ohio 2,530 0.51 3.60 $18.78 $39,050
Pennsylvania 1,770 0.32 2.27 $17.59 $36,590
Indiana 1,540 0.56 3.98 $21.90 $45,540
Michigan 930 0.24 1.73 $22.29 $46,370
Kentucky 920 0.53 3.77 $18.74 $38,980




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Indiana 1,540 0.56 3.98 $21.90 $45,540
Kentucky 920 0.53 3.77 $18.74 $38,980
Ohio 2,530 0.51 3.60 $18.78 $39,050
Alabama 840 0.46 3.30 $18.69 $38,870
Pennsylvania 1,770 0.32 2.27 $17.59 $36,590




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Carolina 360 0.09 0.67 $29.68 $61,740
South Carolina 340 0.19 1.38 $24.19 $50,310
Nevada 200 0.18 1.25 $23.24 $48,330
Michigan 930 0.24 1.73 $22.29 $46,370
Indiana 1,540 0.56 3.98 $21.90 $45,540





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Gary, IN Metropolitan Division 910 3.49 24.79 $24.74 $51,470
Pittsburgh, PA 730 0.66 4.66 $15.81 $32,890
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH 670 0.68 4.83 $18.37 $38,220
St. Louis, MO-IL 520 0.41 2.91 $20.99 $43,660
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 380 0.11 0.76 $20.21 $42,030
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 350 0.44 3.13 $16.98 $35,310
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 310 0.28 1.98 $13.92 $28,950
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 270 1.26 8.99 $17.77 $36,970
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 260 0.54 3.85 $15.77 $32,800
Reading, PA 240 1.47 10.44 $20.05 $41,710




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Gary, IN Metropolitan Division 910 3.49 24.79 $24.74 $51,470
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI 190 3.31 23.54 $19.52 $40,600
Reading, PA 240 1.47 10.44 $20.05 $41,710
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 270 1.26 8.99 $17.77 $36,970
Canton-Massillon, OH 180 1.16 8.27 $18.13 $37,710
Mobile, AL 120 0.72 5.13 $18.96 $39,430
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH 670 0.68 4.83 $18.37 $38,220
Pittsburgh, PA 730 0.66 4.66 $15.81 $32,890
Mansfield, OH 30 0.65 4.62 $17.15 $35,660
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 260 0.54 3.85 $15.77 $32,800




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Division 140 0.20 1.44 $30.43 $63,290
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC 140 0.49 3.49 $29.87 $62,140
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division (8) (8) (8) $29.61 $61,580
Gary, IN Metropolitan Division 910 3.49 24.79 $24.74 $51,470
Jackson, TN (8) (8) (8) $23.67 $49,230
Toledo, OH 70 0.26 1.83 $23.10 $48,040
Syracuse, NY 70 0.24 1.67 $22.81 $47,450
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 180 0.10 0.70 $21.79 $45,320
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC 170 0.21 1.47 $21.49 $44,700
Lancaster, PA 80 0.34 2.43 $21.34 $44,390

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 140 0.71 5.07 $15.59 $32,420
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 140 0.62 4.44 $18.31 $38,090
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 130 0.98 6.94 $15.91 $33,090
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 90 0.34 2.42 $17.73 $36,870
Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 90 0.82 5.85 $21.39 $44,490

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area 80 1.54 10.91 $25.98 $54,040
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 130 0.98 6.94 $15.91 $33,090
Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 90 0.82 5.85 $21.39 $44,490
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 140 0.71 5.07 $15.59 $32,420
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 140 0.62 4.44 $18.31 $38,090

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area 80 1.54 10.91 $25.98 $54,040
Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 90 0.82 5.85 $21.39 $44,490
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $21.16 $44,010
Far Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 60 0.36 2.53 $18.70 $38,890
East Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 80 0.35 2.50 $18.36 $38,190


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012