Installation, maintenance and repair
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.
Median pay
$61,290
Growth to 2035
−14%
declining
Openings a year
100
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons: 96% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Reline or repair ladles and pouring spouts with refractory clay, using trowels.
- Chip slag from linings of ladles or remove linings when beyond repair, using hammers and chisels.
- Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, mortar powder, and water to form refractory clay or mortar, using shovels or mixing machines.
Also called: Cell Reliner · Cupola Repairer · Furnace Repairer · Hot Repairman · Ladle Liner · Ladle Repairman · Refractory Bricklayer · Refractory Technician
Outlook and AI
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons held 1,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 900 by 2035 (−14%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share decreases as more metal products are 3D printed.
Compare with
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Foundry mold and coremakers
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Terrazzo workers and finishers
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons vs. Boilermaker