Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $61,350 +10% vs national
Median hourly $29.49
10th percentile $51,240
90th percentile $78,950
Employed locally 430
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
Reading, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,240
    25th
    $61,350
    50th (median)
    $61,350
    75th
    $66,760
    90th
    $78,950

    Reading economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,684 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 79% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 21% 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
    Pittsburgh, PA $60,210
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $51,460
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $50,410
    Lancaster, PA $48,530

    Related occupations in Reading, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $42,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,670
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $51,460
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $52,520
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $41,230
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $52,590

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Reading, PA is $29.49, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $52.00 or more per hour.

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

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Reading, PA is 10% 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 Reading?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $51,240 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,350.