SOC 51-4051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders — Wichita
Wichita, KS
The median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Wichita, KS is $40,770 per year, substantially below the national median of $54,430 — a gap of 25.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Wichita, KS is $40,770 per year, substantially below the national median of $54,430 — a gap of 25.1%. Half of workers earn between $39,330 and $48,790. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,340 and the ninetieth at $49,620.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Of the 480 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 365th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,340 | −29.6% |
| 25th | $39,330 | −27.7% |
| Median (50th) | $40,770 | −25.1% |
| 75th | $48,790 | −10.4% |
| 90th | $49,620 | −8.8% |
| Mean | $43,700 | −19.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wichita run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $40,770 goes as far as $45,250 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$40,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,250US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $40,770 a year, 25.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,340 to $49,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Wichita, KS?
The median annual wage is $40,770, or $19.60 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 Wichita, KS is 25.1% 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 Wichita, KS earns more than $49,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,340 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 30 jobs in this occupation in Wichita, KS. 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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