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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Indiana
Considering working as a Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Indiana? Here’s what you need to know. Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel. Excludes “Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” (51-4191).
What do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Make in Indiana?
For a metal-refining furnace operators and tenders working in Indiana, the median annual wage is $75,630 per year (or about $36.36/hour).Earnings range from $49,180 at the 10th percentile to $86,340 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| 25th percentile | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Median (50th) | $75,630 | $36.36 |
| 75th percentile | $86,300 | $41.49 |
| 90th percentile | $86,340 | $41.51 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Indiana nationwide is 8.47, indicating that metal-refining furnace operators and tenders are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earn a median of $40,136 per year ($19.30/hour), exceeding the Indiana median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 66,489 metal-refining furnace operators and tenders across the United States. In Indiana alone, approximately 3,560 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 280 metal-refining furnace operators and tenders.
Top Indiana Metros for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
The metro areas below employ the most metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Indiana.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | 200 | $58,550 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 130 | $57,340 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 90 | $47,350 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 40 | $49,330 |
Top States for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Employment
These states have the highest employment of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 3,560 |
| Ohio | 2,240 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,240 |
| Tennessee | 1,190 |
| Alabama | 910 |
| Michigan | 860 |
| New York | 750 |
| Kentucky | 690 |
| Florida | 620 |
| Wisconsin | 590 |
| Texas | 560 |
| California | 540 |
| Utah | 520 |
| Arizona | 490 |
| Arkansas | 430 |
| Iowa | 380 |
| Illinois | 330 |
| Washington | 300 |
| South Carolina | 290 |
| Oregon | 280 |
Highest-Paying States for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Where metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earn the most: metal-refining furnace operators and tenders.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $75,630 |
| Utah | $70,450 |
| New York | $64,350 |
| Iowa | $64,080 |
| Oregon | $62,320 |
| New Jersey | $62,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,200 |
| Washington | $59,170 |
| California | $58,220 |
| Kansas | $57,470 |
Skills
Top metal-refining furnace operators and tenders skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
- Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
- Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.
- Record production data, and maintain production logs.
- Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
- Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
- Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
- Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
- Kindle fires, and shovel fuel and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operators.
- Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
- Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.
- Observe operations inside furnaces, using television screens, to ensure that problems do not occur.
Work Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
Related Careers
Related occupations to metal-refining furnace operators and tenders include:
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Pourers and Casters, Metal
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also Known As
Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Backbreaker, Bessemer Converter Blower, Bessemer Converter Operator, Bessemer Regulator, Blade Bender Furnace Tender, Blast Furnace Blower, Blast Furnace Keeper, Blast Furnace Operator, Blast Furnace Tender, Blower Operator, Burner, Burner Tender, Cadmium Burner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-4051.00
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