Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $37,950 -32% vs national
Median hourly $18.24
10th percentile $32,750
90th percentile $68,710
Employed locally 150
National median $55,770

Compare Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Charleston, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,750
    25th
    $37,950
    50th (median)
    $37,950
    75th
    $60,260
    90th
    $68,710

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 46% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 54% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $86,300
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $85,370
    Indiana $75,630
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $73,500
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $71,740
    Utica-Rome, NY $71,000

    Nearby metros — Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,360
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $50,640
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $48,260
    Wisconsin $47,980
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $43,790
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $35,860

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,030
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,730
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,840
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,000
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,180
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,390

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Charleston, SC is $18.24, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.10 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Charleston, SC is 32% below the national median of $55,770. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Charleston?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $32,750 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,950.