Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in New Mexico is $50,260/year ($24.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $54,008 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $50K get you in New Mexico?
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new metal-refining furnace operators and tenders typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,303/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
New Mexico pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in New Mexico?
The median is $50,260 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,380, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $65,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,413/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 32.8% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $54,008 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.