Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Kentucky
SOC 51-4051 · Kentucky · BLS OEWS May 2025
Median Annual Salary
$59,030
$28.38/hr
8.4% higher than the US national median ($54,434)
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
Get notified when this number updates
Personal or work email, both work. No account needed. Unsubscribe anytime.
The median salary for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kentucky is $59,030 per year ($28.38/hr). This is 8.4% higher than the national median of $54,434.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Wage Percentiles: Kentucky
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$21.47
$44,658
+13.9%
P25
$23.66
$49,213
+6.8%
P50MEDIAN
$28.38
$59,030
+8.4%
P75
$30.46
$63,357
+0.9%
P90Top earners
$32.42
$67,434
-9.5%
Get the full percentile report
P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Free. No account needed. Unsubscribe anytime.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-2.3%
Slower than average
Annual openings
2K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
21K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing
NAICS 331400
4K
$59,740
Foundries
NAICS 331500
4K
$49,210
Wage range across top 5 industries: $49,210 to $59,740 (21% spread)
See the complete picture
Full percentile breakdown · JOLTS market signals · Geographic comparison · AI analyst briefs
No credit card required · 770+ occupations · 393 metros
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary in Kentucky?
The median (P50) annual salary for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kentucky is approximately $59,030, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 8.4% higher than the national median of $54,434. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.