Prevailing Wage for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Prevailing wage floors for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons are set by the DOL using regional labor surveys, so a Furnace Repairer in one city may clear a very different floor than a Ladle Liner or Cupola Repairer working elsewhere. DOL assigns four experience levels, and the floor shifts with each. Verify your offer against the correct level and worksite city before accepting.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level repairers with limited hands-on experience in refractory installation or repair. Workers at this level typically follow detailed instructions, work under close supervision, and have not yet developed independent judgment on furnace or kiln lining projects.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons. These workers handle standard repair and relining tasks with moderate supervision, apply established techniques to boilers, ladles, and converters, and bring some years of relevant field experience.
Level 3 applies to experienced repairers who work independently on complex refractory projects, troubleshoot equipment failures in furnaces or soaking pits, and may informally guide less experienced crew members without holding a formal supervisory title.
Level 4 reflects senior repairers with full competency across equipment types, including cupolas, kilns, and converters. These workers exercise significant independent judgment, lead job-site planning, and are often the primary resource for difficult or non-routine refractory failures.
Prevailing Wage for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Confirm your equipment scope matches the level filed
Employers filing for a Ladle Repairman who also handles cupola and kiln work should reflect that broader scope at Level 3 or 4. Filing at Level 1 or 2 for multi-equipment refractory roles is a common mismatch that can expose the employer to DOL audit.
Watch for title aliasing to lower-wage SOC codes
Job titles like Furnace Repairer or Hot Repairman sometimes get classified under maintenance mechanic or industrial insulation codes instead of SOC 49-9045. A misclassified SOC on the LCA sets a different prevailing wage floor, potentially below what this occupation requires.
Factor in shift differentials and hazard pay separately
Refractory repair is often performed in hot-work environments with shift premiums. DOL requires that the base wage meet the prevailing floor; hazard pay and shift differentials count toward total comp but cannot substitute for a base wage that falls short of the certified level.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with refractory hiring history
Steel producers, cement manufacturers, and glass plants are the core employer base for Cell Reliners and Cupola Repairers. Migrate Mate shows which companies have sponsored this occupation before, letting you target employers already familiar with the refractory workforce visa process.
Jobs for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-9045.00 alongside Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cell Reliner Prevailing Wage
Cell Reliner Prevailing Wage
Cell Reliner positions fall under SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Cupola Repairer Prevailing Wage
Cupola Repairer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cupola Repairer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Furnace Repairer Prevailing Wage
Furnace Repairer Prevailing Wage
Furnace Repairer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Hot Repairman Prevailing Wage
Hot Repairman Prevailing Wage
Hot Repairman positions fall under SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Ladle Liner Prevailing Wage
Ladle Liner Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Ladle Liner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ladle Repairman Prevailing Wage
Ladle Repairman Prevailing Wage
Ladle Repairman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Refractory Bricklayer Prevailing Wage
Refractory Bricklayer Prevailing Wage
Refractory Bricklayer positions fall under SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Refractory Technician Prevailing Wage
Refractory Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Refractory Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Refractory Worker Prevailing Wage
Refractory Worker Prevailing Wage
Refractory Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9045.00 (Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in regional surveys. For SOC 49-9045, OFLC maps that data to four experience levels and publishes wage floors by metropolitan area. Employers certify on the LCA that they will pay at or above the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified with some experience, Level 3 is experienced and largely independent, and Level 4 is fully competent with senior or lead scope. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure of your role. Review the job description carefully; employers sometimes file at a lower level than the role warrants, which can understate your wage floor.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much between cities?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area reflects local labor market rates for refractory work. The wage on the LCA must correspond to the actual worksite, not the employer's headquarters. Areas with heavy industrial concentration in steel or cement tend to have more survey data, which affects the published floor compared to metros with fewer refractory employers.
What happens if an employer's offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or PERM-based petition if the offered wage falls below the DOL-certified prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the filing at the correct level before the petition proceeds. Submitting a below-floor wage is a certifiable grounds for denial.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 49-9045 for your worksite metropolitan area. Select the correct experience level that matches your job duties. OFLC updates these figures annually, so always verify against the current wage year rather than a cached result. Migrate Mate lists employers who have sponsored refractory roles, which can help you identify which companies are actively hiring and filing LCAs in specific locations.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons right now.
Search Jobs for this role