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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $55,770 in the US and is projected to decline by 2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.52 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, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £32,871 a year for Metal making and treating process operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8115). ONS rates this estimate reasonably 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)
No official India pay figure for this career: it falls in more than one occupation group, and the Government of India's labour survey (PLFS) publishes pay only by occupation group.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.
- Record production data, and maintain production logs.
- Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
- Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does 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.
How much does Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders earn?
The median annual salary for Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders in the US is $55,770.
What is the job outlook for Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
The role is projected to decline by 2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 20,800 workers.
How do I become metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
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 Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Critical Thinking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
Our AI-durability model gives Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders a score of 0.52 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?
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.