Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Texas is $46,670/year ($22.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $51,011 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 42.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Texas?
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Texas runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $54K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 42.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for metal-refining furnace operators and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Texas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $51K | +9% | 80 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $49K | +6% | 130 |
| Killeen-Temple | $46K | -2% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 42.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
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 $2,295/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $47K here vs. $54K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Texas pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in Texas?
The median is $46,670 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,250, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $73,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,295/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 42.9% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $51,011 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.