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Skilled Trades

Pourers and Casters, Metal

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

Median salary (BLS)

$51,810

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$38k – $72k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Pourers and Casters, Metal" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Pourers and Casters, Metal

    Entry / Junior

    $38,480

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Pourers and Casters, Metal

    Established

    $51,810

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Pourers and Casters, Metal

    Senior

    $61,925

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.