What You Need to Know About Refractory Materials Repairer
Job Description: Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits and ovens, using refractory materials.
What Do Refractory Materials Repairers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Chip slag from linings of ladles or remove linings when beyond repair, using hammers and chisels.
- Fasten stopper heads to rods with metal pins to assemble refractory stoppers used to plug pouring nozzles of steel ladles.
- Install preformed metal scaffolding in interiors of cupolas, using hand tools.
- Spread mortar on stopper heads and rods, using trowels, and slide brick sleeves over rods to form refractory jackets.
- Install clay structures in melting tanks and drawing kilns to control the flow and temperature of molten glass, using hoists and hand tools.
- Tighten locknuts holding refractory stopper assemblies together, spread mortar on jackets to seal sleeve joints, and dry mortar in ovens.
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What a Refractory Materials Repairer Should Know
When polled, Refractory Materials Repairers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Related Job Titles
- Refractory Materials Repairer
- Cupola Repairer
- Bondactor Machine Operator
- Oven Equipment Repairer
- Clay Structure Builder and Servicer
Are There Job Opportunities for Refractory Materials Repairers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,600 jobs in the United States for Refractory Materials Repairer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Refractory Materials Repairer. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Refractory Materials Repairer are Missouri, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Watch out if you plan on working in Tennessee, Wisconsin, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Refractory Materials Repairers Salary
The average yearly salary of a Refractory Materials Repairer ranges between $32,670 and $72,370.

Refractory Materials Repairers who work in New York, Virginia, or Michigan, make the highest salaries.
How much do Refractory Materials Repairers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $50,840 |
Illinois | $50,110 |
Indiana | $54,760 |
Michigan | $60,020 |
New York | $64,340 |
Pennsylvania | $41,530 |
Tennessee | $41,690 |
Texas | $54,020 |
Virginia | $71,620 |
What Tools do Refractory Materials Repairers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Refractory Materials Repairers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Maintenance management software
- Time tracking software
How to Become a Refractory Materials Repairer
Individuals working as a Refractory Materials Repairer have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Refractory Materials Repairer?

Refractory Materials Repairers Sector

Refractory Materials Repairers work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Refractory Materials Repairer may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Refractory Materials Repairer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Molding and Casting Workers
- Pourers and Casters, Metal
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
References:
Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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