Pourers and Casters, Metal
Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Also called: Caster · Casting Machine Operator · Casting Operator · DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster) · Die Cast Machine Operator · Die Casting Machine Operator
Median pay (national)
$48,940
$37,250–$68,030 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
5,830
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-4.7%
~600 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for pourers and casters, metal shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $68,030 versus $37,250 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $48,940 leaves roughly 39% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -4.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 23 states with released data, Florida pays the most for this role (median $62,080, +27% vs the national median), while Alabama sits lowest at $39,210 — a 58% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
- 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.
- Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.
- Transport metal ingots to storage areas, using forklifts.
- Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment.
Tools & technology
- Husky Injection Molding Systems Shotscope NX
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security