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Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: Job Description
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.
The Daily Work of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Perform?
Typical responsibilities of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful metal-refining furnace operators and tenders combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such 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
Job Outlook
There are roughly 66,489 metal-refining furnace operators and tenders working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +2.0% over the projection horizon.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $40,136 |
| Hourly median | $19.30 |
| 10th percentile | $23,315 |
| 25th percentile | $31,726 |
| 75th percentile | $48,547 |
| 90th percentile | $56,957 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
| Louisiana | $57,070 |
| Connecticut | $56,870 |
| Missouri | $56,160 |
| Minnesota | $55,720 |
| Arizona | $54,550 |
| Illinois | $54,200 |
| Georgia | $51,400 |
| West Virginia | $51,150 |
| Ohio | $50,790 |
| Nevada | $50,590 |
| Kentucky | $50,100 |
| Tennessee | $49,810 |
| Florida | $48,980 |
| Massachusetts | $48,510 |
| Colorado | $48,150 |
| Wisconsin | $47,980 |
| Alabama | $47,520 |
| New Hampshire | $46,960 |
| Nebraska | $46,760 |
| Michigan | $46,290 |
| Virginia | $46,120 |
| New Mexico | $45,990 |
| Oklahoma | $45,840 |
| Rhode Island | $45,740 |
| Texas | $45,170 |
| North Carolina | $43,720 |
| Arkansas | $40,220 |
| South Carolina | $39,780 |
| Mississippi | $38,370 |
Where Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Earn the Most
Compensation for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $67,804 | 2.9% | 2.07 |
| Great Lakes | $61,875 | 37.7% | 5.19 |
| Middle Atlantic | $61,255 | 15.1% | 2.23 |
| Far Western US | $58,905 | 6.0% | 0.54 |
| Plains States | $58,305 | 5.3% | 1.06 |
| Southwest | $49,036 | 6.1% | 0.68 |
| New England | $48,369 | 1.7% | 0.79 |
| Southeast | $47,626 | 25.2% | 2.04 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $86,300 | 2,240 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $73,500 | 200 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $71,740 | 170 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | NY | $71,000 | 240 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $66,370 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $66,360 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $65,380 | 90 |
| Cleveland, OH | OH | $63,030 | 370 |
Industry Breakdown
Most metal-refining furnace operators and tenders are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19,870 | $56,220 |
| Wholesale Trade | 280 | $42,370 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 110 | $70,440 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 70 | $53,910 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of metal-refining furnace operators and tenders reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Education and Training
Entry-level metal-refining furnace operators and tenders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons (Supplemental)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Pourers and Casters, Metal (Supplemental)
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (Primary-Long)
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (Primary-Short)
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-4051.00 (Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders).
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