How to become a Refractory Materials Repairer
Official title: Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Also called: Cell Reliner, Cupola Repairer, Furnace Repairer, Hot Repairman, Ladle Liner, Ladle Repairman, Refractory Bricklayer, Refractory Technician, Refractory Worker
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.
Main 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.
How to become one
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $61,290 a year The middle half earn $50,050 to $75,000.
- About 1,100 people work in this job now, and about 900 are projected by 2035. (-13.7%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How much does a Refractory Materials Repairer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $61,290 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $50,050 to $75,000.
Is a Refractory Materials Repairer a growing career in the US?
Employment is projected to fall 14% by 2035, from about 1,100 to about 900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Refractory Materials Repairer?
Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Refractory Materials Repairer?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.