Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons (SOC 49-9045) earn a median $61,290 a year ($29.47 an hour) in the United States, with 1,080 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons do
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons, build or repair furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, ovens and similar equipment with refractory materials. They blend measured amounts of sand, clay, mortar powder and water into refractory clay or mortar, by shovel or mixing machine. Ladles and pouring spouts are relined or repaired with refractory clay applied with trowels. Slag is chipped from the linings of ladles with hammers and chisels, and linings that are beyond repair are removed. The O*NET task list for this occupation has only three entries. The equipment named in the definition, ladles, furnaces and kilns, is lined so that it can hold heat, and the work restores that lining. Titles such as furnace repairer, cupola repairer, kiln door builder and cell reliner show the kinds of equipment involved. Brickmasons (47-2021) are excluded by the title and are classified separately.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Bondactor Machine Operator, Cell Reliner, Clay Structure Builder, Clay Structure Servicer, Concrete Caulking Technician.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.52 | $24.06 | $29.47 | $36.06 | $41.59 | $30.66 | 1,080 |
| Annual | $40,590 | $50,050 | $61,290 | $75,000 | $86,510 | $63,770 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $27.98 | $37.13 | $37.13 | $52.24 | $52.25 | $41.67 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $58,210 | $77,220 | $77,220 | $108,670 | $108,670 | $86,680 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $26.33 | $30.69 | $35.86 | $41.59 | $48.33 | $36.11 | 90 | 0.03 | 4.18 |
| Annual | $54,760 | $63,840 | $74,600 | $86,510 | $100,530 | $75,110 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $26.90 | $27.97 | $32.37 | $33.79 | $37.90 | $31.31 | 130 | 0.01 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $55,950 | $58,180 | $67,330 | $70,280 | $78,830 | $65,120 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $22.64 | $23.88 | $28.11 | $29.69 | $31.17 | $27.47 | 250 | 0.05 | 6.50 |
| Annual | $47,080 | $49,670 | $58,470 | $61,760 | $64,830 | $57,140 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $17.84 | $18.18 | $22.91 | $27.04 | $30.14 | $24.04 | 110 | 0.05 | 7.68 |
| Annual | $37,100 | $37,810 | $47,650 | $56,250 | $62,700 | $50,000 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $22.64 | $23.88 | $28.11 | $29.69 | $31.17 | $27.47 | 250 | 0.05 | 6.50 |
| Annual | $47,080 | $49,670 | $58,470 | $61,760 | $64,830 | $57,140 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $26.90 | $27.97 | $32.37 | $33.79 | $37.90 | $31.31 | 130 | 0.01 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $55,950 | $58,180 | $67,330 | $70,280 | $78,830 | $65,120 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $17.84 | $18.18 | $22.91 | $27.04 | $30.14 | $24.04 | 110 | 0.05 | 7.68 |
| Annual | $37,100 | $37,810 | $47,650 | $56,250 | $62,700 | $50,000 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $26.33 | $30.69 | $35.86 | $41.59 | $48.33 | $36.11 | 90 | 0.03 | 4.18 |
| Annual | $54,760 | $63,840 | $74,600 | $86,510 | $100,530 | $75,110 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $16.84 | $18.21 | $18.21 | $23.47 | $28.39 | $20.12 | 50 | 0.02 | 2.94 |
| Annual | $35,030 | $37,870 | $37,870 | $48,810 | $59,060 | $41,850 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $37.13 | $37.13 | $37.13 | $52.24 | $52.25 | $43.31 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $77,220 | $77,220 | $77,220 | $108,670 | $108,670 | $90,080 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $28.42 | $28.42 | $32.39 | $37.88 | $37.90 | $32.72 | 50 | 0.02 | 2.40 |
| Annual | $59,110 | $59,110 | $67,380 | $78,800 | $78,830 | $68,050 | ||||
| Birmingham, AL | Hourly | $18.31 | $18.42 | $23.69 | $27.04 | $27.04 | $24.16 | 50 | 0.09 | 13.16 |
| Annual | $38,090 | $38,310 | $49,260 | $56,250 | $56,250 | $50,250 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Birmingham, AL | Hourly | $18.31 | $18.42 | $23.69 | $27.04 | $27.04 | $24.16 | 50 | 0.09 | 13.16 |
| Annual | $38,090 | $38,310 | $49,260 | $56,250 | $56,250 | $50,250 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $28.42 | $28.42 | $32.39 | $37.88 | $37.90 | $32.72 | 50 | 0.02 | 2.40 |
| Annual | $59,110 | $59,110 | $67,380 | $78,800 | $78,830 | $68,050 | ||||
Top industries employing refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing employ 25.0% of refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons nationally (270 jobs) at a median $50,710 a year ($24.38 an hour), followed by Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (18.5%) and Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (15.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing NAICS 331100 | 270 | 25.0% | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 200 | 18.5% | $77,220 | $37.13 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing NAICS 327000 | 170 | 15.7% | $56,740 | $27.28 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 110 | 10.2% | $66,580 | $32.01 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,080). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $54,250 for refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons in May 2021 and $61,290 in May 2025, with employment of 660 and 1,080.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $54,250 | $26.08 | 660 |
| May 2022 | $50,550 | $24.30 | 580 |
| May 2023 | $48,410 | $23.27 | 540 |
| May 2024 | $58,540 | $28.15 | 1,100 |
| May 2025 | $61,290 | $29.47 | 1,080 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
6 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $37.13 | $77,220 | $58,210 | $108,670 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | Indiana profile | $35.86 | $74,600 | $54,760 | $100,530 | 90 | 0.03 | 4.18 |
| 3 | Texas profile | $32.37 | $67,330 | $55,950 | $78,830 | 130 | 0.01 | 1.32 |
| 4 | Ohio profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $47,080 | $64,830 | 250 | 0.05 | 6.50 |
| 5 | Alabama profile | $22.91 | $47,650 | $37,100 | $62,700 | 110 | 0.05 | 7.68 |
| 6 | South Carolina profile | $18.21 | $37,870 | $35,030 | $59,060 | 50 | 0.02 | 2.94 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9045 Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9045, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9045.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.