49 Series · SOC 49-9045
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $61,290
- Median / year
- $86,510
- Top 10% earn
- -16.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 1,080
- US workers
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons earn a median of $61,290 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $61,290, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $40,590 (10th percentile) to $86,510 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,080 US workers. California pays the most ($77,220), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons earn a median of $61,290, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 50% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #24 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 16.9% by 2033.
- $61,290
- Median annual wage
- Top 50%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #24 of 51
- in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $77,220. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons (SOC 49-9045) pays a national median of $61,290 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $40,590 at the 10th percentile to $86,510 at the 90th, with a mean of $63,770 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,080 Americans work in this occupation across 6 reporting states and 3 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -16.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 8.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $77,220, which is +26% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $77,220 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$61,290
per year
Median Hourly
$29.47/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$63,770
average
Employment
1,080
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$61,290 Top 50% higher than 50% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 49-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons sits on the slower-growing side at -16.9% growth and $61,290 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-16.9%
Declining
Annual Openings
100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8.1/100K
Injury Rate
3/100
Danger Index
16/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Climb scaffolding, carrying hoses, and spray surfaces of cupolas with refractory mixtures, using spray equipment.
- ▸ Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, mortar powder, and water to form refractory clay or mortar, using shovels or mixing machines.
- ▸ Spread mortar on stopper heads and rods, using trowels, and slide brick sleeves over rods to form refractory jackets.
- ▸ Dump and tamp clay in molds, using tamping tools.
- ▸ Transfer clay structures to curing ovens, melting tanks, and drawing kilns, using forklifts.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$40,590
25th Percentile
$50,050
Median
$61,290
75th Percentile
$75,000
90th Percentile
$86,510
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 6 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $77,220 | +26% above national |
| 2 | Indiana | $74,600 | +22% above national |
| 3 | Texas | $67,330 | +10% above national |
| 4 | Ohio | $58,470 | 5% below national |
| 5 | Alabama | $47,650 | 22% below national |
| 6 | South Carolina | $37,870 | 38% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 3 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,220 | +26% above national |
| 2 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $67,380 | +10% above national |
| 3 | Birmingham, AL | $49,260 | 20% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 49 (installation maintenance and repair) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons make? ▼
What state pays Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons? ▼
How dangerous is being a Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons? ▼
Is Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons a good career? ▼
How does Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $75,000/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $77,220/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.