Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Detroit, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Median annual salary $44,990 -19.3% vs national
Median hourly $21.63
10th percentile $38,220
90th percentile $60,650
Employed locally 190
National median $55,770

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

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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
in
Detroit, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,220
    25th
    $39,000
    50th (median)
    $44,990
    75th
    $57,280
    90th
    $60,650

    Detroit economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,123 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 60% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 40% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $73,500
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,370
    Missouri $56,160
    Minnesota $55,720
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $49,030
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $47,820

    Related occupations in Detroit, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,840
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,410
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $55,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $73,210
    Machinists $57,240
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $50,150

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Detroit, MI is $21.63, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.09 or more per hour.

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

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Detroit, MI is 19.3% 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 Detroit?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $38,220 per year in Detroit, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,000.