Jobs Similar to Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to metal-refining furnace operators and tenders, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders, Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers and Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: $54,430 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
83% similar · $46,460 (−15%) · High school
- 2Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
83% similar · $46,350 (−15%) · High school
- 3Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
83% similar · $46,170 (−15%) · High school
- 4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
83% similar · $96,710 (+78%) · High school
- 5Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
83% similar · $48,750 (−10%) · High school · Same group
- 6Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
82% similar · $38,180 (−30%) · High school
- 7Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
82% similar · $61,770 (+13%) · High school
- 8Tire Builders
82% similar · $57,390 (+5%) · High school
- 9Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $38,670 (−29%) · High school
- 10Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $47,920 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 11Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $48,250 (−11%) · High school
- 12Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $39,530 (−27%) · High school
- 13Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $43,960 (−19%) · High school · Same group
- 14Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
81% similar · $43,220 (−21%) · High school
- 15Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $48,540 (−11%) · High school
- 16Foundry Mold and Coremakers
81% similar · $48,110 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 17Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $50,140 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 18Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
80% similar · $77,320 (+42%) · High school
- 19Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $44,350 (−19%) · High school · Same group
- 20Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $50,270 (−8%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than metal-refining furnace operators and tenders.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for metal-refining furnace operators and tenders also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former metal-refining furnace operators and tenders →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where metal-refining furnace operators and tenders is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (90)
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (86)
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders (86)
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers (85)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons (85)
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (83)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (83)
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (83)
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders (82)
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (82)
Questions about jobs like metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
What jobs are most similar to metal-refining furnace operators and tenders?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (83% similar), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (83% similar), Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (83% similar), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (83% similar) and Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (83% similar).
Which jobs like metal-refining furnace operators and tenders pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +78%; usually a high school diploma), Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators ($77,320, +42%; usually a high school diploma) and Pump Operators ($61,770, +13%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with metal-refining furnace operators and tenders ($54,430). Without more preparation than metal-refining furnace operators and tenders usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators and Pump Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.