SOC 51-4051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders — Tennessee
Tennessee · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Tennessee is $57,490 per year, close to the national median of $54,430 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Tennessee is $57,490 per year, close to the national median of $54,430 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $37,430 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,470 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,190 to $68,880.
Employment stands at 730, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 36 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 13th by median wage. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $57,030. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 348th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,430 | −31.2% |
| 25th | $46,190 | −15.1% |
| Median (50th) | $57,490 | +5.6% |
| 75th | $68,880 | +26.5% |
| 90th | $75,470 | +38.7% |
| Mean | $58,000 | +6.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $57,030 | 120 | |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $46,550 | 60 | |
| 3 | Morristown | $43,270 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $57,490 goes as far as $62,557 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,557US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,490 a year, 5.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,430 to $75,470 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 730 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 13th of 36 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $57,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $57,490, or $27.64 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 Tennessee is 5.6% higher. 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 Tennessee earns more than $75,470 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,430 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $57,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 730 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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