Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
What Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Do
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.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 1.2%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Production and Processingimportance 4.0/5
- Mechanicalimportance 3.7/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.2/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.2/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 2.8/5
- Chemistryimportance 2.8/5
- Mathematicsimportance 2.7/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
- Exposed to Contaminants5.0/5
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings4.9/5
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.8/5
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.5/5
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.5/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders96% skill match
- Gas Plant Operators96% skill match
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers96% skill match
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders96% skill match
- Logging Equipment Operators96% skill match
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand95% skill match
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers95% skill match
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners95% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.9/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.0/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.9/5
- Equipment Maintenanceimportance 2.9/5
- Troubleshootingimportance 2.9/5
- Time Managementimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Process control software
- Process safety management software
- Production tracking system software
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Perseverance
- Integrity
- Self-Control
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- ArtisticLow
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where metal-refining furnace operators and tenders make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Albany, OR27.82× national avg
- 2Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI18.02× national avg
- 3Michigan City-La Porte, IN16.27× national avg
- 4Anniston-Oxford, AL15.80× national avg
- 5Mansfield, OH14.90× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move
See the full career path from Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders →