DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
51-4051 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Occupational Description:
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).| Percentiles | |||||||||
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| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 420 | 91 | $22.32/hr | $0.47/hr | $16.67/hr | $19.87/hr | $22.55/hr | $25.01/hr | $28.19/hr |
| U S | 17,150 | 669 | $21.12/hr | $0.25/hr | $13.61/hr | $16.52/hr | $20.61/hr | $25.26/hr | $29.96/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,070 | $17.94/hr | 0.0% |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,730 | $20.65/hr | 0.6% |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,180 | $22.18/hr | 0.2% |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 340 | $18.53/hr | 0.0% |
Tasks for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
- Manipulates controls to ignite burners, adjust fuel mixtures, open and close furnace doors, or to load and discharge materials into or from furnace.
- Regulates supply of fuel and air or controls flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces.
- Observes color and fluidity of molten metal and obtains test sample of metal from furnace or kettle for analysis.
- Sprinkles chemicals over molten metal to bring impurities to surface and removes impurities, using strainers.
- Inspects furnace and equipment for defects and wear and directs work-crew in cleaning and repairing furnace walls and flooring.
- Draws smelted metal samples from furnace for analysis and calculates type and amount of material required to correct smelting process.
- Scrapes accumulations of metal oxides from floors, molds, and crucibles and sifts and stores for reclamation.
- Weighs materials to be charged into furnace or to maintain prescribed weight, using scales.
- Records data and maintains production logs.
- Examines and prepares material to load into furnace, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, using crushing-machine, shovel, rake, or sprayer.
- Analyzes metal test sample, according to specific instructions and for specific and for specific element content.
- Drains, transfers, or removes molten metal from furnace or into molds by hoist or pumps or ladles.
- Observes inside of furnace operations by television screen and operates controls to move or discharge metal workpiece.
- Observes air and temperature gauges or metal color and turns fuel valves or adjusts controls to maintain required temperature.
- Kindles fire and shovels fuels and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operator.
