What Do Metal-Refining Furnace Operators And Tenders Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 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.

Salary
$46000
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 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.

  • 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.
  • Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
  • Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear. They record production data and maintain production logs.

A typical day for a Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender will also include:

  • Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
  • Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
  • Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
  • Sprinkle chemicals over molten metal to bring impurities to the surface.
  • Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators also scrape accumulations of metal oxides from floors, molds, and crucibles, and sift and store them for reclamation. They may also direct work crews in the cleaning and repair of furnace walls and flooring.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators observe operations inside furnaces, using television screens, to ensure that problems do not occur. They might also weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.

In addition, they inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them sprinkle chemicals over molten metal to bring impurities to the surface.

To some Metal-Refining Furnace Operators, it is also their responsibility to remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Salary is below average.

Demand for this career is declining.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$46000 per year

Average hourly wage

$22 per hour

Entry-level Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $29,750 to $35,790 per year or $14 to $17 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $64,570 $31
Senior (Top 25%) $55,770 $27
Median $44,610 $21
Junior (Bottom 25%) $35,790 $17
No experience (Bottom 10%) $29,750 $14

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Metal Ore Mining $55120 $26.50
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $50780 $24.42
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing $49930 $24.01
Machinery Manufacturing $49530 $23.81
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing $48240 $23.19
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel $47650 $22.91
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing $46310 $22.26
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing $46070 $22.15
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities $44470 $21.38
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing $44100 $21.20

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing 4350 $48240 $23.19
Foundries 2830 $42010 $20.20
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 2710 $49930 $24.01
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 2040 $44100 $21.20
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 470 $42780 $20.57
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 430 $36940 $17.76
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities 370 $44470 $21.38
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 350 $47650 $22.91
Machinery Manufacturing 290 $49530 $23.81
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 280 $42890 $20.62

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
1%

40 hours
35%

More than 40 hours
64%

Working schedule

90%

7%

3%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
25%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
8%

Every day
29%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
25%

Every day
47%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
63%

Once a year
2%

Once a month
2%

Once a week
33%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
44%

Slightly competitive
10%

Moderately competitive
32%

Highly competitive
0%

Extremely competitive
14%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
74%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
21%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
23%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
3%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
71%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
56%

Once a year or more
21%

Once a month or more
13%

Once a week or more
5%

Every day
5%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
84%

Once a year or more
11%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
3%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
36%

High School Diploma or equivalent
64%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
33%

1 month
12%

1 to 3 months
3%

3 to 6 months
19%

6 months to 1 year
15%

1 to 2 years
3%

2 to 4 years
2%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
14%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
22%

1 to 3 months
25%

3 to 6 months
11%

6 months to 1 year
14%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
14%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
14%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
81%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
24%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
71%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
33%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
36%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
29%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
29%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
95%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
43%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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