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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
Work Values
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Control
- Independence
- Cooperation
Tasks
- 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.
Work Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Detailed Work Activities
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Technology Skills
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Inventory management software
- Industrial control software
Abilities
- Control Precision
- Manual Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
This information is currently unavailable.
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $36,138 |
| Median (50%) | $39,575 |
| High (90%) | $47,585 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $39,516 |
| Mid Level | N/A |
| Senior Level | N/A |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 21,400 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 20,400 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -5%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of -5%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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