Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Alabama is $54,260/year ($26.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $61,408 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Alabama?
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Alabama
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Alabama
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $61K | +13% | 100 |
| Birmingham | $56K | +4% | 420 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $50K | -7% | 70 |
| Mobile | $43K | -20% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 30.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new metal-refining furnace operators and tenders typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,168/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is metal-refining furnace operators and tender a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Alabama pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in Alabama?
The median is $54,260 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,130, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $79,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,591/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 30.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary is worth about $61,408 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.