Pourers and Casters, Metal

SOC: 51-4052 O*NET: 51-4052.00

Median Salary

$51,810

per year

Job Growth

📉 -4.7%

Slower (2024-2034)

Annual Openings

0.6

projected jobs/year

Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Job Zone 2

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

What does a Pourers and Casters, Metal do?

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

How much can you earn?

Entry Level

$38,480

10th percentile

Early Career

$45,190

25th percentile

Median

$51,810

50th percentile

Experienced

$61,700

75th percentile

Top Earners

$72,040

90th percentile

National Salary Distribution

10th

$38,480

25th

$45,190

Middle 50%

MEDIAN

$51,810

Mean: $54,290

75th

$61,700

90th

$72,040

Middle 50% of earners

Median salary

Mean (average)

Key Insights

•Salary range spans $33,560 from entry level to top earners
•Middle 50% earn between $45,190 and $61,700
•Salary spread is 31.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
•Total national employment: 4,560 professionals

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

Operations Monitoring

100%

English Language

100%

Arm-Hand Steadiness

100%

Control Precision

92%

Operation and Control

88%

Manual Dexterity

82%

Monitoring

76%

Near Vision

74%

Reaction Time

66%

#10

Critical Thinking

64%

Skills Overview

Operations Monitoring

advanced5.0

100%

English Language

advanced5.0

100%

Arm-Hand Steadiness

advanced5.0

100%

Control Precision

advanced4.6

92%

Operation and Control

intermediate4.4

88%

Manual Dexterity

intermediate4.1

82%

Monitoring

intermediate3.8

76%

Near Vision

intermediate3.7

74%

Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

Filter:

Sort by:

Operations Monitoring

advanced

Importance100%

skills

5.0/5.0

English Language

advanced

Importance100%

knowledge

5.0/5.0

Arm-Hand Steadiness

advanced

Importance100%

abilities

5.0/5.0

Control Precision

advanced

Importance92%

abilities

4.6/5.0

Operation and Control

intermediate

Importance88%

abilities

4.4/5.0

Manual Dexterity

intermediate

Importance82%

abilities

4.1/5.0

Monitoring

intermediate

Importance76%

skills

3.8/5.0

Near Vision

intermediate

Importance74%

abilities

3.7/5.0

Reaction Time

intermediate

Importance66%

abilities

3.3/5.0

Critical Thinking

intermediate

Importance64%

abilities

3.2/5.0

Perceptual Speed

basic

Importance58%

abilities

2.9/5.0

Judgment and Decision Making

basic

Importance52%

abilities

2.6/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Fallers83%

5 shared skills

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic83%

5 shared skills

Tire Builders83%

5 shared skills

Bridge and Lock Tenders75%

5 shared skills

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders71%

5 shared skills

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas71%

5 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Must Have:

✓English Language

Learn on the Job:

→Critical Thinking
→Judgment and Decision Making
→Reaction Time

Mid Career

Expected:

✓Operations Monitoring
✓English Language
✓Operation and Control
✓Arm-Hand Steadiness
✓Control Precision

Senior Level

Mastery Required:

★English Language
★Operation and Control
★Arm-Hand Steadiness
★Control Precision
★Manual Dexterity

Skill Development Tips

•Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
•Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
•Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
•Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Essential technology proficiencies for Pourers and Casters, Metal

Technology Intensity

Medium

Digital Literacy Requirements

This career requires intermediate digital literacy

Basic

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

Key Digital Competencies:

Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools

🔥

Hot Technologies in Demand

These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

Microsoft Outlook

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft PowerPoint

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Excel

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Word

🔥 Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

📚 Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

•Vendor-specific software certifications
•Industry-recognized technology credentials
•Professional development courses

Online Learning Platforms

•LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
•Coursera - University-level programs
•Udemy - Practical skills training

💡 Technology Skill Development Tips

•Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
•Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
•Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
•Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

What's the work environment like?

🏢

Location

MOSTLY INDOOR

💪

Physical Demand

MODERATE

👥

Team Orientation

SOME TEAM

🤝

Customer Interaction

CONSTANT

💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?

Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

•Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
•Can you meet moderate physical demands?
•Do you enjoy some team team environments?
•Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

What are the key tasks?

Tasks & Responsibilities

Core Tasks

Daily Tasks

Work Activities

Emerging Tasks

Filter:

Sort by:

General Responsibilities (14)Training & Development (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)

Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

100%

General Responsibilities100% perform

Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

98%

General Responsibilities97% perform

Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

96%

General Responsibilities94% perform

Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

94%

General Responsibilities91% perform

Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

92%

General Responsibilities88% perform

Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

90%

Training & Development85% perform

Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

88%

General Responsibilities82% perform

Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage.

🔴

Daily

Importance:

86%

General Responsibilities79% perform

Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.

🟡

Weekly

Importance:

84%

General Responsibilities76% perform

Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.

🟡

Weekly

Importance:

82%

General Responsibilities73% perform

💡 Key Takeaways

•Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
•44% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
•Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities

What career paths are available?

Career Pathways

Advancement Opportunities

Lateral Move Options

Avg. Salary Increase

Compare Paths (select up to 3)

Advancement Opportunities

Typical career progression paths from Pourers and Casters, Metal

💡 Career Planning Tips

•Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
•Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
•Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
•Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves

Is this career right for you?

Personality & Values Fit

Is This Career Right for You?

Pourers and Casters, Metal professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support

RRealistic

CConventional

IInvestigative

Important Personality Traits

Work styles that contribute to success as a Pourers and Casters, Metal

Dependability

Very Important

Dependability

Importance Level4.24

Initiative

Very Important

Initiative

Importance Level4.19

Attention to Detail

Very Important

Attention to Detail

Importance Level4.10

Self-Control

Important

Self-Control

Importance Level3.80

Cooperation

Important

Cooperation

Importance Level3.79

Persistence

Important

Persistence

Importance Level3.77

Complete Work Styles Profile

Dependability

4.2

Initiative

4.2

Attention to Detail

4.1

Self-Control

3.8

Cooperation

3.8

Persistence

3.8

Independence

3.6

Integrity

3.5

Stress Tolerance

3.5

💡 Tips for Career Fit Success

•While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
•Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
•Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
•Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career

What education is required?

Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Typical duration: High school diploma or GED

Preparation Level

Job Zone 2

Some Preparation Needed

Experience Needed

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful

📚 Education Requirement

Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.

Training:

Training of a few months to a year

💼 Experience Requirement

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful

Common pathways to gain experience:

• Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
• Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
• Industry certifications helpful

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Explore educational programs that can help you become a Pourers and Casters, Metal.

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Trade Colleges That Train for Pourers and Casters, Metal

Top trade colleges by completions in fields that prepare students for this career.

📋 What does a Pourers and Casters, Metal do?

💰 How much can you earn?

National Salary Distribution

Key Insights

📊 What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Current Employment

Top Industries

10-Year Outlook

Employment Projections

Geographic Salary & Employment Data

Understanding the Data

Key Growth Factors

💡 What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

Skills Overview

Operations Monitoring

English Language

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Control Precision

Operation and Control

Manual Dexterity

Monitoring

Near Vision

Reaction Time

Critical Thinking

Perceptual Speed

Judgment and Decision Making

Highly Transferable Skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Mid Career

Senior Level

Skill Development Tips

💻 What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Digital Literacy Requirements

Key Digital Competencies:

Hot Technologies in Demand

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

📚 Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

Online Learning Platforms

💡 Technology Skill Development Tips

🏗️ What's the work environment like?

Work Schedule

Safety & Health Considerations

Work Context Details

💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?

✅ What are the key tasks?

Tasks & Responsibilities

💡 Key Takeaways

🚀 What career paths are available?

Career Pathways

Advancement Opportunities

💡 Career Planning Tips

🎯 Is this career right for you?

Personality & Values Fit

Is This Career Right for You?

Important Personality Traits

Dependability

Initiative

Attention to Detail

Self-Control

Cooperation

Persistence

Complete Work Styles Profile

💡 Tips for Career Fit Success

🎓 What education is required?

Education Level

Preparation Level

Experience Needed

📚 Education Requirement

💼 Experience Requirement

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

What does a Pourers and Casters, Metal do?

How much can you earn?

What's the job outlook?

What skills do you need?

What technology will you use?

What's the work environment like?

What are the key tasks?

What career paths are available?

Is this career right for you?

What education is required?