Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials. The role reports a median annual salary of $58,540 in the US and is projected to decline by 17% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.40 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operations Monitoring, Repairing, Operation and Control, Active Listening, Equipment Maintenance.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £40,760 a year for Metal working production and maintenance fitters (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £31,226 to £52,357 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5223). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Design
- Education and Training
What you'd actually do
- Reline or repair ladles and pouring spouts with refractory clay, using trowels.
- Chip slag from linings of ladles or remove linings when beyond repair, using hammers and chisels.
- Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, mortar powder, and water to form refractory clay or mortar, using shovels or mixing machines.
- Measure furnace walls to determine dimensions and cut required number of sheets from plastic block, using saws.
- Dry and bake new linings by placing inverted linings over burners, building fires in ladles, or by using blowtorches.
- Remove worn or damaged plastic block refractory linings of furnaces, using hand tools.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons do?
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.
How much does Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons earn?
The median annual salary for Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons in the US is $58,540.
What is the job outlook for Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons?
The role is projected to decline by 17% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 1,100 workers.
How do I become refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operations Monitoring, Repairing, Operation and Control, Active Listening, Equipment Maintenance, Critical Thinking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons?
Our AI-durability model gives Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons a score of 0.40 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.