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.

Also called: Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter), Automatic Furnace Operator, Central Melt Specialist, Control Room Operator, Electric Melt Operator, Furnace Operator, Melt Room Operator, Melter, Vacuum Melter, Vessel Operator, Backbreaker, Bessemer Converter Blower, Bessemer Converter Operator, Bessemer Regulator, Blade Bender Furnace Tender, Blast Furnace Blower, Blast Furnace Keeper, Blast Furnace Operator, Blast Furnace Tender, Blower Operator, Burner, Burner Tender, Cadmium Burner, Charge Operator, Charger, Charger Operator, Charging Machine Operator, Coke Burner, Coke Drawer, Condenser Setter, Converter, Converter Operator, Converter Skimmer, Cooler Operator, Copper Tapper, Cover Operator, Crucible Furnace Tender, Cupola Melter, Cupola Operator, Cupola Tender, Desilverizer, Electric Arc Furnace Operator, Electric Furnace Operator, Fettler, Fire Regulator, Flux Plant Operator, Flux Tube Attendant, Furnace Charger, Furnace Checker, Furnace Door Tender, Furnace Filler, Furnace Firer, Furnace Hand, Furnace Keeper, Furnace Loader, Furnace Puncher, Furnace Roaster, Furnace Tapper, Gas Reverser, Gas Tender, Hearth Feeder, Hot Baller, Hot Blast Worker, Hot Car Charger, Hot Iron Worker, Hot Metal Car Operator, Hot Metal Charger, Induction Furnace Operator, Ingot Passer, Iron Caster, Iron Founder, Iron Melter, Kettle Skimmer, Kettle Worker, Kiln Burner, Kiln Firer, Kiln Operator, Kiln Packer, Kiln Tender, Lead Furnace Operator, Lead Refiner, Lead Shop Operator, Leveler, Manganese Heater, Melt Down Furnace Operator, Melting Furnace Skimmer, Melting Operator, Metal Furnace Operator, Metal Melter, Metal Off Bearer, Metal Reclamation Kettle Tender, Metal Refiner, Metal Roaster, Metal Smelter, Muffle Worker, Muffler Hand, Muffler Tender, Oil Burner, Oil Burner Journeyman, Open Hearth Furnace Operator, Open Hearth Melter, Open Hearth Worker, Operating Technician (Operating Tech), Ore Charger, Ore Dryer, Ore Roaster, Ore Smelter, Ore Storage Drier, Oven Heater, Oven Operator, Oven Tender, Oven Worker, Oxygen Furnace Operator, Pig Furnace Operator, Pig Machine Operator, Pipe Out Worker, Pipe Recovery Specialist, Plunger, Poler, Pot Feeder, Pot Filler, Pot Operator, Pot Puller, Pot Puncher, Pot Room Tapper, Pot Tender, Puddler, Pull Up Hand, Puller Out, Puncher, Pusher Runner, Pyrometer Operator, Rabbler, Reclamation Furnace Operator, Reduction Furnace Operator, Refiner, Reheat Furnace Operator, Remelt Worker, Remelter, Residue Furnace Operator, Retort Cooler, Retort Fireman, Retort Furnace Operator, Retort Loader, Retort Pre-Cooker, Reverberatory Furnace Operator, Roaster, Rodman, Ross Furnace Operator, Rotary Furnace Operator, Rotary Kiln Operator, Scrap Charger, Scrap Kettle Tender, Scruff Worker, Sinter Machine Operator, Skimmer, Slag Skimmer, Slagger, Smelter, Smelter Charger, Smelter Operator, Steel Melter, Stirrer, Stove Tender, Tin Recovery Worker, Topper, Zinc Furnace Charger, Zinc Skimmer

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
Kindle fires, and shovel fuel and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operators.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Quality Control Analysis
Active Learning
Social Perceptiveness
Equipment Maintenance

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate (0.00% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

46,080–62,810 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4051.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate (0.00% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders