All About Refractory Materials Repairers
Job Description: Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits and ovens, using refractory materials.
Refractory Materials Repairer Responsibilities
- Tighten locknuts holding refractory stopper assemblies together, spread mortar on jackets to seal sleeve joints, and dry mortar in ovens.
- Drill holes in furnace walls, bolt overlapping layers of plastic to walls, and hammer surfaces to compress layers into solid sheets.
- Dump and tamp clay in molds, using tamping tools.
- Remove worn or damaged plastic block refractory linings of furnaces, using hand tools.
- Transfer clay structures to curing ovens, melting tanks, and drawing kilns, using forklifts.
- Measure furnace walls to determine dimensions and cut required number of sheets from plastic block, using saws.
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Skills Needed to be a Refractory Materials Repairer
When polled, Refractory Materials Repairers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Related Job Titles
- Plastic Block Boiler Reliner
- Ladle Repairman
- Refractory Technician
- Ladle Liner
- Furnace Repairer
Is There Going to be Demand for Refractory Materials Repairers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,600 jobs in the United States for Refractory Materials Repairer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Refractory Materials Repairer. The BLS estimates 100 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Refractory Materials Repairer are Missouri, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Watch out if you plan on working in Tennessee, Wisconsin, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Refractory Materials Repairer
The salary for Refractory Materials Repairers ranges between about $32,670 and $72,370 a year.

Refractory Materials Repairers who work in New York, Virginia, or Michigan, make the highest salaries.
How much do Refractory Materials Repairers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $50,840 |
Illinois | $50,110 |
Indiana | $54,760 |
Michigan | $60,020 |
New York | $64,340 |
Pennsylvania | $41,530 |
Tennessee | $41,690 |
Texas | $54,020 |
Virginia | $71,620 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Refractory Materials Repairers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Refractory Materials Repairers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Maintenance management software
- Time tracking software
How to Become a Refractory Materials Repairer
Are there Refractory Materials Repairers education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Refractory Materials Repairer?

Where Refractory Materials Repairers Are Employed

Refractory Materials Repairers work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Refractory Materials Repairer might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Refractory Materials Repairer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Molding and Casting Workers
- Pourers and Casters, Metal
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
References:
Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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