Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $45,400 -18.6% vs national
Median hourly $21.83
10th percentile $36,140
90th percentile $55,030
Employed locally 130
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
Grand Rapids, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,140
    25th
    $36,140
    50th (median)
    $45,400
    75th
    $52,340
    90th
    $55,030

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 57% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 43% 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 Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $39,030
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $42,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,900
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $44,350
    Machinists $49,750
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Grand Rapids, MI is $21.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.25 or more per hour.

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

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 18.6% 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 Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $36,140 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,140.