The median pay for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons is $61,290 a year ($29.47/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 13.7% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9045
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,290a year, or $29.47/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $41KTop 10% $87K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -13.7%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−13.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −13.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1001,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.1K
- Projected 2035900
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.1K Projected 2035 900 - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school0.8%
- High school74.9%
- Certificate17.3%
- Some college7.1%
Highest education held by refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons Segment Value Less than high school 0.8% High school 74.9% Certificate 17.3% Some college 7.1%
Also advertised as: Cell Reliner, Cupola Repairer, Furnace Repairer, Hot Repairman, Ladle Liner, Ladle Repairman.
Pay
How much do Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons make?
Every refractory materials repairer, except brickmasons in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,290
Middle half earn $50,050 to $75,000
- 10th
- $40,590
- 25th
- $50,050
- 75th
- $75,000
- 90th
- $86,510
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,590 |
| 25th | $50,050 |
| Median | $61,290 |
| 75th | $75,000 |
| 90th | $86,510 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,290
- Median hourly wage
- $29.47/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,770
- People employed
- 1,080
Versus all US occupations
At $61,290, Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons earn 20% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,310 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
The median is typical for the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $86,510 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,590, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 34% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($77,220), but once local prices are taken into account Indiana leads at $79,932 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $77,220 | $69,743 | N/A |
| 2Indiana | $74,600 | $79,932 | 90 |
| 3Texas | $67,330 | $69,372 | 130 |
| 4Ohio | $58,470 | $63,024 | 250 |
| 5Alabama | $47,650 | $53,646 | 110 |
| 6South Carolina | $37,870 | $40,395 | 50 |
Job outlook
Is Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -13.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | −13.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons to change -13.7% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 9.1% of the 1,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)74.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate17.3%
- Some College Courses7.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma0.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 74.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 17.3% |
| Some College Courses | 7.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons do?
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.
Day-to-day tasks
- Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, mortar powder, and water to form refractory clay or mortar, using shovels or mixing machines.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Speaking2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Writing2.5
- Active Learning2.4
- Learning Strategies2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Repairing3.1
- Operation and Control3.0
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Repairing | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Facilities management software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.5
- Investigative2.2
- Artistic1.3
- Social1.0
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
- Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school - Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Brickmason, Blockmason, Stonemason, and Tile and Marble Setter
$47,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
−11.7%No formal credential - Production
- Construction and Extraction
- Production
Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
$48,750median a year
Most earn $35K to $66K
−9.5%High school
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons$61,290
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons | $61,290 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons appears on
Questions
Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons: frequently asked questions
How much do Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons make?
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons earn a median of $61,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 20% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.47/hr. The middle half earn between $50,050 and $75,000. The top 10% earn $86,510 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 74.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 13.7% over 2025–2035, a loss of 200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons do?
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials. A core O*NET task: mix specified amounts of sand, clay, mortar powder, and water to form refractory clay or mortar, using shovels or mixing machines. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons the most?
The highest state medians for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons are California ($77,220), Indiana ($74,600), Texas ($67,330) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Indiana moves to the top at $79,932.
What personality type suits a Refractory Materials Repairer, Except Brickmasons?
O*NET scores Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.