Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in West Virginia is $56,290/year ($27.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $63,226 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $56K get you in West Virginia?
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, West Virginia
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $32K 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 West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new metal-refining furnace operators and tenders typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,395/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
West Virginia pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in West Virginia?
The median is $56,290 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,910, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $72,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,772/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 26.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $63,226 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.