Pourers and casters, metal salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $51,810 | $24.91 |
| Mean (average) | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 90th percentile | $72,040 | $34.63 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Pourers and casters, metal pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 23 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,330 | $39,680 | $67,400 | 160 | 2.57 |
| Arkansas | $45,410 | $39,400 | $63,530 | 90 | 2.42 |
| California | $44,150 | $38,150 | $55,230 | 240 | 0.44 |
| Florida | $62,090 | $56,770 | $84,660 | 40 | 0.14 |
| Illinois | $57,200 | $47,020 | $84,290 | 330 | 1.83 |
| Indiana | $61,430 | $43,320 | $65,010 | 530 | 5.62 |
| Iowa | $49,010 | $41,690 | $63,490 | 80 | 1.79 |
| Kansas | $50,530 | $34,620 | $55,500 | 70 | 1.72 |
| Kentucky | $38,800 | $38,800 | $68,300 | 60 | 0.99 |
| Massachusetts | $62,820 | $40,240 | $91,100 | ||
| Michigan | $60,280 | $37,560 | $71,970 | 360 | 2.81 |
| Mississippi | $43,370 | $37,470 | $50,570 | 30 | 0.9 |
| Missouri | $48,850 | $42,750 | $59,240 | 60 | 0.69 |
| North Carolina | $57,700 | $37,450 | $63,150 | 100 | 0.72 |
| Ohio | $60,770 | $39,080 | $72,170 | 460 | 2.84 |
| Oregon | $52,010 | $36,740 | $77,080 | 60 | 1.05 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,220 | $37,590 | $54,230 | 290 | 1.61 |
| Tennessee | $71,880 | $38,650 | $72,690 | 120 | 1.28 |
| Texas | $52,100 | $39,730 | $71,540 | 500 | 1.22 |
| Utah | $45,140 | $37,710 | $60,490 | 30 | 0.67 |
| Virginia | $39,420 | $31,200 | $62,970 | 60 | 0.46 |
| Washington | $54,210 | $47,750 | $89,170 | 80 | 0.8 |
| Wisconsin | $47,880 | $37,580 | $67,820 | 320 | 3.67 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for pourers and casters, metal
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for pourers and casters, metal
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners.
- Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.
- Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
- Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.
- Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
- Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Husky Injection Molding Systems Shotscope NX
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management.
Common job titles: Caster, Casting Machine Operator, Casting Operator, DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster), Die Cast Machine Operator, Die Casting Machine Operator, Iron Pourer, Melter, Metal Handler, Pourer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pourers and casters, metal make?
The national median annual wage for pourers and casters, metal was $51,810 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,480 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $72,040. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do pourers and casters, metal need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is pourers and casters, metal a growing career?
BLS projects employment of pourers and casters, metal to change -5.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay pourers and casters, metal the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Tennessee ($71,880), Massachusetts ($62,820), Florida ($62,090). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.