Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons

Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.

AI Resistance Index 50 of 99

In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 50% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by -13.7% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on physical dexterity.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $61,290
Job growth to 2035: -13.7%
Openings a year: 100
People doing it (2025): 1,100
Usual route in: High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training

Open the full picture Ask Mr Thoob about it

Where people already use AI for this work

Prepare mixtures or solutions
Maintain facilities or equipment
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Repair tools or equipment
Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas
Fabricate devices or components

What the work looks like

Measure furnace walls to determine dimensions and cut required number of sheets from plastic block, using saws.
Reline or repair ladles and pouring spouts with refractory clay, using trowels.
Dry and bake new linings by placing inverted linings over burners, building fires in ladles, or by using blowtorches.
Remove worn or damaged plastic block refractory linings of furnaces, using hand tools.
Chip slag from linings of ladles or remove linings when beyond repair, using hammers and chisels.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as more metal products are 3D printed.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Tire repairers and changersHuman edge, steady, Index 91, +3.4%
Automotive glass installers and repairersHuman edge, growing, Index 81, +5.7%
Food processing workers, all otherHuman edge, growing, Index 86, +5.5%
Production workers, all otherHuman edge, steady, Index 79, +0.8%

Also known as: Cupola Repairer, Ladle Liner, Refractory Bricklayer, Refractory Technician, Cell Reliner, Furnace Repairer, Hot Repairman, Ladle Repairman.

Is this career on your child's list?

Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.

Build a free Playbook See the plans

Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.