Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Wisconsin is $48,260/year ($23.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $51,161 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 36.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Wisconsin?
About metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Wisconsin runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $54K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 36.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Wisconsin
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $49K | +2% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track metal-refining furnace operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a metal-refining furnace operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new metal-refining furnace operators and tenders typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,636/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $48K here vs. $54K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Wisconsin pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make in Wisconsin?
The median is $48,260 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,930, and experienced metal-refining furnace operators and tenders can clear $61,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,275/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 36.7% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $51,161 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.