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Pourers and Casters, Metal

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $51,810 Median per year · $24.91/hr Most earn $38,480–$72,040

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
  • Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
  • Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.
  • Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.
  • Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.
  • Stencil identifying information on ingots and pigs, using special hand tools.

Job outlook

United States
5% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Foundries44.9%
  • Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing19.8%
  • Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing16.6%
  • Alumina and aluminum production and processing7.1%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing4.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people need a high school diploma and no prior work experience, and they learn the job on the floor of a foundry or metal plant. Because of that, you could start working in this field soon after graduating.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, with strong math, shop, and safety classes. This is the only education most employers ask for before you apply.

  2. Pourers and Casters, Metal

    Entry level, learned on the job

    Start as a pourer or caster and learn to control the flow of molten metal into molds, usually with on-the-job training under experienced workers. Your career starts here.

Where it can lead

  1. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

    About 6 months to 1 year of experience first

    You move from hand-pouring to setting up and running casting machines, which takes more skill with equipment and quality checks.

  2. Foundry Supervisor

    Several years of foundry experience of experience first

    You lead a crew, schedule work, and make sure castings meet safety and quality standards. It takes strong experience on the floor plus good communication and leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop or metalworking classesHands-on work with tools and materials gives you a feel for the job and builds useful skills.
  • Take math and physical scienceAlgebra, chemistry, and physics help you understand how metal melts, cools, and flows.
  • Get a summer or weekend job at a factory or machine shopWorking around production equipment teaches you routines, teamwork, and safety habits.
  • Complete a basic workplace safety courseKnowing how to handle heat, heavy loads, and protective gear shows employers you are ready to work safely.
  • Join a career or technical student clubClubs like SkillsUSA, if your school has one, let you practice teamwork and technical skills with other students.

In college

  • Consider a certificate in welding, metallurgy, or manufacturingShort technical programs at community colleges teach metal properties and production methods that can help you get hired.
  • Work a part-time job in manufacturing or a foundryReal experience on a production floor is what employers value most for this job.
  • Take a workplace safety certificationSafety training is required in many plants and shows you take hazards seriously.
  • Build math and problem-solving skillsChecking measurements and troubleshooting equipment are everyday tasks in casting work.
  • Ask a foundry or metal plant worker for a job shadowSeeing the work up close helps you decide if the job fits you and gives you a contact for future applications.

Tips for getting started

  • Take shop, welding, or metals classes if your school offers them. Hands-on experience with tools and safety rules will help you stand out to employers.
  • Ask about summer or part-time jobs at local factories, foundries, or machine shops. Even sweeping floors or helping on a production line shows you can handle a hot, busy workplace.
  • Learn basic workplace safety early, such as wearing protective gear and following lockout rules. Safety is a big part of this job, and a good record makes it easier to move up.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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