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Steel & Metal Production
Nucor, U.S. Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
These workers repair the heat-resistant linings inside furnaces, ladles, pouring spouts, and cupolas in plants that handle extreme temperatures. The job is unusual because it mixes rough manual work with careful measuring, cutting, mixing, and curing of special materials. The main tradeoff is clear: the work can pay decently for a trade, but it is hot, heavy, and tied to a small occupation that is projected to shrink.
Also known as Refractory TechnicianRefractory Repair TechnicianFurnace Refractory InstallerRefractory Maintenance WorkerLadle Repair Technician
Median Salary
$58,540
Mean $61,480
U.S. Workforce
~1K
0.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-16.9%
1.1K to 0.9K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~1K workers, with a median annual pay of $58,540 and roughly 0.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 1.1 K in 2024 to 0.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Helper / Laborer and can progress toward Crew Lead / Foreman. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Repairing, and Equipment Maintenance, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Coordination, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Break out old slag and damaged lining from ladles and other hot-metal containers.
- Mix sand, clay, mortar powder, and water into a heat-resistant repair material.
- Patch or rebuild ladles and pouring spouts, smoothing the material into place with hand tools.
- Set up scaffolding and spray cupola walls with refractory mix using hoses and spray equipment.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Break out old slag and damaged lining from ladles and other hot-metal containers.
02 Mix sand, clay, mortar powder, and water into a heat-resistant repair material.
03 Patch or rebuild ladles and pouring spouts, smoothing the material into place with hand tools.
04 Set up scaffolding and spray cupola walls with refractory mix using hoses and spray equipment.
05 Measure furnace walls, cut replacement block pieces to size, and fit them into place.
06 Dry and harden new linings with burners, fires, or blowtorches so they can handle extreme heat.
Industries That Hire
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Foundries & Metal Casting
Waupaca Foundry, Grede, Neenah Foundry
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Glass Manufacturing
Corning, Owens Corning, Saint-Gobain
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Cement & Refractories
Holcim, Heidelberg Materials, Martin Marietta
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Industrial Construction & Maintenance
Fluor, KBR, Jacobs
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is fairly solid for a trade, with a median of $58,540 and a mean of $61,480.
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You can get in with a high school diploma and no prior work experience, then learn mostly through moderate on-the-job training.
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The work is specialized, so people who can repair and cure linings correctly become valuable on shutdown jobs.
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The job is hands-on and varied, moving between demolition, mixing, fitting, spraying, and curing rather than sitting at a desk.
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Because the occupation is small at about 1,100 workers, a skilled repairer can become well known quickly in a region or plant network.
Challenges
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The work is physically demanding, with heavy lifting, climbing scaffolding, and repeated hammer-and-chisel work.
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Conditions are rough: hot surfaces, dust, noise, and contact with industrial equipment are part of the job.
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Employment is projected to fall 16.9% from 1.1k to 0.9k by 2034, so the field is shrinking.
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Only about 0.1 thousand annual openings are expected, which means job searches can be competitive even for experienced workers.
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Career growth is limited by the size of the occupation, so many workers have to move into broader maintenance or supervisory jobs to move up.
Career Progression
Helper / Laborer
0-1 years
$34K-$44K
You support the crew by moving materials, cleaning out work areas, and learning safety rules and tool handling.
Refractory Repairer
1-4 years
$50K-$67K
You do the core repair work, including tearing out damaged linings, mixing materials, measuring openings, and installing replacements.
Senior Refractory Repairer THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$68K-$83K
You handle harder repair jobs, work more independently, and help solve fit and curing problems during shutdowns.
Crew Lead / Foreman
8+ years
$84K-$100K
You direct the crew, set the work sequence, and coordinate with plant staff to finish repairs on schedule.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
This is the main entry point, held by 74.85% of workers in this role, and it is usually paired with moderate on-the-job training.
Post-secondary certificate in welding, industrial maintenance, or refractory work
A smaller path used by 17.27% of workers, often giving candidates a faster start with industrial tools, safety, and material handling.
Some college courses in welding, industrial technology, or metals
This route accounts for 7.08% of workers and can help, but it is not required if you can learn the repair process on site.
Short certificate in welding, OSHA safety, or industrial maintenance
A practical alternative for applicants who want proof of safety and tool skills before applying, even though it is not a major path in the distribution data.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 65%
Repairing 62%
Equipment Maintenance 60%
Operation and Control 60%
Refractory Lining Installation & Repair 59%
Mixing and Applying Refractory Materials 58%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCoordinationCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionAttention to DetailSafety Awareness Job Outlook and Trends
+-16.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 1.1K to 0.9 K over the next decade, representing -16.9% growth. Around 0.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.