Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Pennsylvania is $55,910/year ($26.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $58,871 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in Pennsylvania?
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Pennsylvania
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $69K | +23% | 210 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $63K | +13% | 170 |
| Pittsburgh | $61K | +9% | 320 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $51K | -9% | 160 |
| Lancaster | $50K | -10% | 70 |
| Erie | $47K | -16% | 30 |
| York-Hanover | $46K | -18% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new metal-refining furnace operators and tenders typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,365/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Pennsylvania pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $55,910 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,410, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $70,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,771/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 35.8% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $58,871 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.