Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Pourers and Casters, Metal
SOC: 51-4052 O*NET: 51-4052.00
Median Salary
$48,940
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?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$37,250
10th percentile
Early Career
$41,410
25th percentile
Median
$48,940
50th percentile
Experienced
$59,850
75th percentile
Top Earners
$68,030
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$37,250
25th
$41,410
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$48,940
Mean: $51,320
75th
$59,850
90th
$68,030
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $30,780 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $41,410 and $59,850
- •Salary spread is 37.7% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 5,830 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:5,900
Top Industries
Manufacturing98.1%
Primary Metal Manufacturing88.3%
Foundries39.1%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-4.7%
Annual Openings:600
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)5,900
Current
2034 (Projected)5,700
-4.7%
-300
Employment Change
-4.7%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Pourers and Casters, Metal professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 23 locations
Indiana
1,060 jobs$54,1108.80x
Pennsylvania
680 jobs$44,0602.99x
Ohio
590 jobs$47,3102.80x
Texas
480 jobs$48,8000.92x
Michigan
400 jobs$57,6902.42x
Illinois
340 jobs$56,0901.49x
Wisconsin
330 jobs$46,1703.02x
California
250 jobs$40,7700.36x
Alabama
200 jobs$39,2102.55x
Tennessee
130 jobs$47,1001.07x
Massachusetts
120 jobs$58,9100.87x
Kentucky
120 jobs$44,7001.62x
Iowa
110 jobs$54,3201.85x
Missouri
110 jobs$47,2101.04x
Arkansas
110 jobs$40,3002.18x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operations Monitoring
100%
#2
Operation and Control
88%
#3
Monitoring
76%
#4
Critical Thinking
64%
#5
Judgment and Decision Making
52%
#6
Active Listening
40%
Skills Overview
Operations Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Operation and Control
intermediate4.4
88%
Monitoring
intermediate3.8
76%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.2
64%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.6
52%
Active Listening
basic2.0
40%
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
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Operation and Control
intermediateImportance88%
abilities
4.4/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance76%
skills
3.8/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance64%
abilities
3.2/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance52%
abilities
2.6/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
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
Learn on the Job:
- →Critical Thinking
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Operation and Control
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
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
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 TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology 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
16
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (14)Training & Development (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)
1
Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
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:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development85% perform90%
7
Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 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
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
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 ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.24
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.19
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.10
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.80
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.79
Persistence
ImportantPersistence
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
2
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
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