Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Pourers and casters, metal work in a specialized production environment handling molten metal and casting operations. Nationally, about 6,000 people are employed in this occupation, with 1,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing churn and replacement needs. The typical entry point is accessible with a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make this career approachable for those not pursuing college degrees. Key strengths for success include mechanical aptitude, physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, and strong attention to detail. Additional skills in science, mathematics, computers and information technology, and critical and analytical thinking support more advanced problem-solving and process understanding. Leadership and project management abilities can be useful for coordinating work or advancing into roles with more responsibility. Overall, this career suits individuals interested in hands-on industrial work who are prepared for physically demanding tasks and precise, safety-conscious operations.
The national median annual salary for pourers and casters, metal is $48,940. Pay varies meaningfully across locations. Among the highlighted states, Washington shows a median salary of $54,210 and Texas $52,100, both above the national median, while Pennsylvania at $47,220 and California at $44,150 fall somewhat below it. Virginia’s median of $39,420 is lower than the other listed states. At the metro level, several areas stand out with relatively higher pay: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a median salary of $66,120, and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN reports $61,680. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX shows $58,240, and Madison, WI reports $50,300. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA has a median of $44,020. These differences suggest that workers may see higher earning potential in certain metro and state markets, with some locations offering substantially higher median wages than others.
National employment for pourers and casters, metal stands at 6,000, with projected employment growth of -4.7%. This indicates an overall decline in the number of positions over the projection period. Despite this negative growth rate, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect replacement needs as current workers retire, change occupations, or leave the workforce. The combination of shrinking overall employment and continuing annual openings means that new entrants may still find opportunities, but competition or turnover patterns could shape access to available roles. The uniform growth rate of -4.7% shown for states and metros in the data underscores that this decline is a consistent backdrop across different regions. Individuals considering this field should weigh the presence of ongoing openings against the broader downward trend in total employment.
Location can make a significant difference for pourers and casters, metal, both in pay and concentration of jobs. Among the top states by opportunity score, California has an opportunity score of 67.38, with median pay of $44,150 and employment of 240. Washington combines a higher median salary of $54,210 with smaller employment of 80 and an opportunity score of 56.29. Texas stands out for larger employment at 500, median salary of $52,100, and an opportunity score of 51.57, suggesting a notable cluster of jobs. Pennsylvania and Virginia offer moderate employment levels and opportunity scores, with median salaries of $47,220 and $39,420, respectively. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH leads the listed areas with a median salary of $66,120 and an opportunity score of 63.37, though employment is relatively small at 40. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN combines higher employment (320) with a median salary of $61,680. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX and Madison, WI also show higher median wages than many states, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA offers a larger metro employment base at 120 with a lower median salary of $44,020.
Pourers and casters, metal typically enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent. This educational requirement makes the occupation accessible to individuals who do not plan to complete a college degree but are willing to develop specialized technical and physical capabilities. Success in this role is supported by a mix of mechanical skills, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor abilities, reflecting the hands-on and physically demanding nature of the work. Being detail oriented is also important, as precise operations are central to metal pouring and casting. Skills in science and mathematics contribute to understanding processes and measurements, while critical and analytical thinking supports problem-solving. Competence with computers and information technology can help with modern production systems and equipment interfaces. Leadership and project management skills may become more relevant for workers who coordinate tasks, oversee others, or handle more complex production activities over time.
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