The median annual wage for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $86,300 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $79,550.
Pay spans roughly $62,760 at the 10th percentile to $86,340 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $41.49 per hour. An estimated 2,240 people work as metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $86,300 |
| Mean (annual) | $79,550 |
| Median (hourly) | $41.49 |
| 10th percentile | $62,760 |
| 90th percentile | $86,340 |
| Employment | 2,240 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.