Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ is $49,660/year ($23.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $48,064 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,839/month, about 53.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $50K actually covers in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,839/month, which is 54.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $61K | $60K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $58K | $51K |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $52K | $52K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $67K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $76K | +39% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $75K | +38% | 150 |
| New York | $66K | +22% | 760 |
| Oregon | $64K | +18% | 400 |
| Washington | $63K | +15% | 330 |
| North Carolina | $61K | +12% | 390 |
| Utah | $61K | +11% | 330 |
| Arizona | $60K | +10% | 490 |
| Kentucky | $59K | +8% | 810 |
| Massachusetts | $58K | +7% | 240 |
| California | $58K | +7% | 280 |
| Indiana | $58K | +7% | 1,520 |
| Tennessee | $57K | +6% | 730 |
| Iowa | $57K | +5% | 330 |
| Virginia | $57K | +5% | 110 |
| Nevada | $57K | +4% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $56K | +3% | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $56K | +3% | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $55K | +2% | 200 |
| Ohio | $55K | +1% | 1,790 |
| Alabama | $54K | -0% | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -3% | 60 |
| Illinois | $51K | -6% | 590 |
| Connecticut | $51K | -7% | 60 |
| New Mexico | $50K | -8% | 60 |
| Florida | $50K | -9% | 700 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -10% | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -11% | 540 |
| Georgia | $48K | -12% | 230 |
| Texas | $47K | -14% | 600 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | -15% | 60 |
| Michigan | $45K | -18% | 680 |
| Kansas | $45K | -18% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $44K | -19% | 290 |
| Arkansas | $40K | -27% | 490 |
| Mississippi | $40K | -27% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 36 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 54.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
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 $2,659/month. At HUD’s $1,839/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $49,660 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,370, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $61,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,392/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 54.2% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary is worth about $48,064 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.