Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chattanooga, TN-GA

Median annual salary $44,750 -19.8% vs national
Median hourly $21.51
10th percentile $38,100
90th percentile $49,110
Employed locally 90
National median $55,770

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

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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
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Chattanooga, TN-GA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,100
    25th
    $40,670
    50th (median)
    $44,750
    75th
    $45,120
    90th
    $49,110

    Chattanooga economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,666 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 65% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 35% 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
    Jackson, TN $51,270
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $48,630
    Morristown, TN $41,910

    Related occupations in Chattanooga, TN-GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$38,440
    Production Workers, All Other$41,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$62,030
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,440
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,920
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,150

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $21.51, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.18 or more per hour.

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

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 19.8% 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 Chattanooga?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $38,100 per year in Chattanooga, TN-GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,670.