Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders build operations monitoring, operation and control and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (89%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 89% | $48,040 | −12% | None |
| 2 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 86% | $58,040 | +7% | None |
| 3 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 86% | $61,770 | +13% | None |
| 4 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 85% | $51,610 | −5% | None |
| 5 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | 84% | $77,320 | +42% | None |
| 6 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 84% | $46,350 | −15% | None |
| 7 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 84% | $102,040Pay for the broader BLS group “Power Plant Operators” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 83% | $45,760 | −16% | None |
| 9 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 83% | $61,290 | +13% | None |
| 10 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 83% | $96,710 | +78% | None |
Compared with Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders, median $54,430. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
89% skill match · $48,040 · −12% pay
Programming
86% skill match · $58,040 · +7% pay
Programming · Service Orientation · Judgment and Decision Making
86% skill match · $61,770 · +13% pay
Programming · Technology Design · Service Orientation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (89% skill match, median $48,040), Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (86% skill match, median $58,040) and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers (86% skill match, median $61,770), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 10 pay more than metal-refining furnace operators and tenders at the median. The biggest increases: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+78%, $96,710), Roof Bolters, Mining (+44%, $78,540) and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (+44%, $78,620).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.