SOC 51-4051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders — Arkansas
Arkansas
The median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Arkansas is $39,920 per year, substantially below the national median of $54,430 — a gap of 26.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Arkansas is $39,920 per year, substantially below the national median of $54,430 — a gap of 26.7%. Pay ranges from under $34,920 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,880 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,840 to $45,930.
The area has 490 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Among the 36 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 35th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 471st of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,920 | −35.8% |
| 25th | $36,840 | −32.3% |
| Median (50th) | $39,920 | −26.7% |
| 75th | $45,930 | −15.6% |
| 90th | $61,880 | +13.7% |
| Mean | $43,560 | −20.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $39,920 goes as far as $45,938 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,938US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,920 a year, 26.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,920 to $61,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 36 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $39,920, or $19.19 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $54,430, so pay in Arkansas is 26.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $61,880 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,920 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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