Career Paths From Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move94.3% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 12% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change94.2% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 42% higher.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change95.8% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 13% higher.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move95.7% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 24% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$41,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersLateral Move93.9% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$46,350
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pourers and Casters, MetalLateral Move94.4% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Pourers and Casters, Metal share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Pourers and Casters, Metal sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 5% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$51,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersLateral Move94.9% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 78% higher.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$96,710
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Plant and System OperatorsLateral Move93.5% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Chemical Plant and System Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Chemical Plant and System Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 44% higher.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$78,120
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Plant OperatorsLateral Move95.8% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Gas Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Gas Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 61% higher.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$87,820
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsLateral Move94.6% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Power Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 87% higher.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move94.1% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move96% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$48,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationCareer Change93.4% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$46,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Logging Equipment OperatorsCareer Change95.7% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Logging Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Logging Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 9% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$49,740
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersLateral Move94.7% skill match
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$54,430
Target median salary
$50,060
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.