# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/metal-refining-furnace-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-4051.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $54,430 (10th percentile $39,200, 90th percentile $74,470)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.9%
- Openings a year: 1,400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 98 |
| Investigative (I) | 29 |
| Artistic (A) | 1 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 50 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 77/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 76/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 74/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 70/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 64/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 64/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 61/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 61/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Chemistry, Mathematics, English Language, Engineering and Technology

## Also called

Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Backbreaker, Bessemer Converter Blower, Bessemer Converter Operator, Bessemer Regulator, Blade Bender Furnace Tender, Blast Furnace Blower, Blast Furnace Keeper, Blast Furnace Operator

## Related careers

- [Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heat-treating-equipment-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $48,750 median pay
- [Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furnace-kiln-oven-drier-and-kettle-operators-and-tenders): $48,040 median pay
- [Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/separating-filtering-clarifying-precipitating-and-still-machine-setters-operators-and): $51,610 median pay
- [Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/welding-soldering-and-brazing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $47,920 median pay
- [Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaning-washing-and-metal-pickling-equipment-operators-and-tenders): $43,530 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.