Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators: Who Earns More?

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss out-earn Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss land at $54,430 and Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss at $44,650. The education gap is real: metal-refining furnace operators and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss is Minnesota ($75,880); for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss it's District of Columbia ($50,330).

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Median salary
$54,430
$44,650
Hourly rate
$26.17/hr
$21.47/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,200
$33,280
Senior level (90th %)
$74,470
$64,880
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
16,780
1,405,030
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Minnesota
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Minnesota
$75,880
$46,920
Oregon
$64,410
$46,910
Washington
$62,850
$48,260
Kentucky
$59,040
$47,950
Massachusetts
$58,480
$46,720
California
$58,310
$47,720
Indiana
$58,300
$45,550
Iowa
$57,030
$48,920
Nevada
$56,790
$49,050
Missouri
$55,480
$46,480
Ohio
$55,080
$45,720
Nebraska
$52,800
$45,470
Wisconsin
$48,260
$45,670
New Hampshire
$46,380
$46,940
South Carolina
$44,160
$45,500

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss?

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss earn more nationally. The median is $54,430 for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss versus $44,650 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss get paid the most?

Minnesota is the top-paying state for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss at $75,880/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss earn $75,880 vs. $46,920 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenderss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricatorss by take-home payExplore →How to become a metal-refining furnace operators and tendersGuide →How to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorsGuide →