Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $60,020 +7.6% vs national
Median hourly $28.85
10th percentile $53,130
90th percentile $60,060
Employed locally 80
National median $55,770

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

Type a city below to see how Waterloo, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
in
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $53,130
    25th
    $60,020
    50th (median)
    $60,020
    75th
    $60,020
    90th
    $60,060

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 87% Median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary is 13% 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
    Indiana $75,630
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,370
    Pennsylvania $60,200
    Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $58,720
    California $58,220
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $57,340

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,120
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,630
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $48,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,420
    Production Workers, All Other $48,700

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Waterloo, IA is $28.85, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.88 or more per hour.

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

    The median Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in Waterloo, IA is 7.6% 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 Waterloo?

    Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $53,130 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,020.