Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $86,300 +54.7% vs national
Median hourly $41.49
10th percentile $62,760
90th percentile $86,340
Employed locally 2,240
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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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $62,760
    25th
    $74,280
    50th (median)
    $86,300
    75th
    $86,340
    90th
    $86,340

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 97% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 3% below the area median household income

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

    Metro areaMedian salary
    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
    Utah $70,450

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

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $71,740
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,370
    Huntsville, AL $57,360
    Illinois $54,200
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $51,400
    Jacksonville, FL $49,780

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,330
    Machinists $57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Chicago, IL-IN is $41.49, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.27 or more per hour.

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

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 54.7% above 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 Chicago?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $62,760 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $74,280.