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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$54,430

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$39k – $74k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $39,200

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    Established

    $54,430

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    Senior

    $64,450

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.