What You'll Do

  • Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
  • Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
  • Record production data, and maintain production logs.
  • Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
  • Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.
  • Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
  • Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
  • Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
  • Observe operations inside furnaces, using television screens, to ensure that problems do not occur.
  • Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.88/5
Operation and Control 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.62/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.0/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.0/5
Active Learning 2.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.88/5
Equipment Maintenance 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Cautiousness, Attention to Detail, Stress Tolerance, Perseverance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Control Precision 3.88/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5
Manual Dexterity 3.75/5
Near Vision 3.75/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.62/5
Reaction Time 3.62/5
Selective Attention 3.38/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Process control software Process safety management software Production tracking system software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.71/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.67/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.44/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.07/5)
  • Perseverance (High importance: 3.75/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Arc and Argon Oxygen Decarburization Melter (ARC and AOD Melter) Automatic Furnace Operator Backbreaker Bessemer Converter Blower Bessemer Converter Operator Bessemer Regulator Blade Bender Furnace Tender Blast Furnace Blower Blast Furnace Keeper Blast Furnace Operator Blast Furnace Tender Blower Operator Burner Burner Tender Cadmium Burner Central Melt Specialist Charge Operator Charger Charger Operator Charging Machine Operator Coke Burner Coke Drawer Condenser Setter Control Room Operator Converter Converter Operator Converter Skimmer Cooler Operator Copper Tapper Cover Operator Crucible Furnace Tender Cupola Melter Cupola Operator Cupola Tender Desilverizer Electric Arc Furnace Operator Electric Furnace Operator Electric Melt Operator Fettler Fire Regulator Flux Plant Operator Flux Tube Attendant Furnace Charger Furnace Checker Furnace Door Tender Furnace Filler Furnace Firer Furnace Hand Furnace Keeper Furnace Loader Furnace Operator Furnace Puncher Furnace Roaster Furnace Tapper Gas Reverser Gas Tender Hearth Feeder Hot Baller Hot Blast Worker Hot Car Charger Hot Iron Worker Hot Metal Car Operator Hot Metal Charger Induction Furnace Operator Ingot Passer Iron Caster Iron Founder Iron Melter Kettle Skimmer Kettle Worker Kiln Burner Kiln Firer Kiln Operator Kiln Packer Kiln Tender Lead Furnace Operator Lead Refiner Lead Shop Operator Leveler Manganese Heater Melt Down Furnace Operator Melt Room Operator Melter Melting Furnace Skimmer Melting Operator Metal Furnace Operator Metal Melter Metal Off Bearer Metal Reclamation Kettle Tender Metal Refiner Metal Roaster Metal Smelter Muffle Worker Muffler Hand Muffler Tender Oil Burner Oil Burner Journeyman Open Hearth Furnace Operator Open Hearth Melter Open Hearth Worker Operating Technician (Operating Tech) Ore Charger Ore Dryer Ore Roaster Ore Smelter Ore Storage Drier Oven Heater Oven Operator Oven Tender Oven Worker Oxygen Furnace Operator Pig Furnace Operator Pig Machine Operator Pipe Out Worker Pipe Recovery Specialist Plunger Poler Pot Feeder Pot Filler Pot Operator Pot Puller Pot Puncher Pot Room Tapper Pot Tender Puddler Pull Up Hand Puller Out Puncher Pusher Runner Pyrometer Operator Rabbler Reclamation Furnace Operator Reduction Furnace Operator Refiner Reheat Furnace Operator Remelt Worker Remelter Residue Furnace Operator Retort Cooler Retort Fireman Retort Furnace Operator Retort Loader Retort Pre-Cooker Reverberatory Furnace Operator Roaster Rodman Ross Furnace Operator Rotary Furnace Operator Rotary Kiln Operator Scrap Charger Scrap Kettle Tender Scruff Worker Sinter Machine Operator Skimmer Slag Skimmer Slagger Smelter Smelter Charger Smelter Operator Steel Melter Stirrer Stove Tender Tin Recovery Worker Topper Vacuum Melter Vessel Operator Zinc Furnace Charger Zinc Skimmer

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.