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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-4051 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. Excludes “Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic" (51-4191).

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 8021$29.21/hr$24.31/hr$25.13/hr$29.08/hr$29.08/hr$38.58/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and MiningN/AN/A
Manufacturing110$25.13/hr
Professional and Business ServicesN/AN/A
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change -10-
Southwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Rochester MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Central Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Balance of State 10$22.47/hrN/A
Southeast Minnesota 10$22.47/hr6.5%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 80$29.08/hr3.3%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 100$27.82/hrN/A
Minnesota 120$25.13/hrN/A




  • Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
  • 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.
  • Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
  • Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
  • Sprinkle chemicals over molten metal to bring impurities to the surface.
  • Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.
  • Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
  • Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
  • Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.