Pourers and Casters, Metal
Pourers and Casters, Metal (SOC 51-4052) earn a median $51,810 a year ($24.91 an hour) in the United States, with 4,560 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Tennessee.
What pourers and casters, metal do
Pourers and casters of metal handle the step in which molten metal moves from a furnace or ladle into molds to form castings or ingots. Using ladles or other hand-controlled equipment, the worker controls the rate at which metal flows so the mold fills evenly. Before the pour, they check that molds are clean, smooth, and properly coated, and they may load furnaces or crucibles with metal and flux. They watch temperature gauges and the color of the melt and adjust burners, torches, or electric heating to keep it in range. Samples are collected, or other workers are signaled to take them, so the metal can be analyzed. Afterward, solidified metal or slag that plugs a pouring nozzle is cleared with long bars or oxygen burners. Slag is skimmed and excess metal removed from ingots or equipment with hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, and scrap is collected for recycling.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Aluminum Pourer, Billet Header, Brass Pourer, Buggy Ladle Tender, Bull Ladle Tender.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.50 | $21.73 | $24.91 | $29.67 | $34.63 | $26.10 | 4,560 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $45,190 | $51,810 | $61,700 | $72,040 | $54,290 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where pourers and casters, metal earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $18.58 | $29.50 | $34.56 | $34.95 | $34.95 | $31.00 | 120 | 0.04 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $61,360 | $71,880 | $72,690 | $72,690 | $64,480 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $19.34 | $23.82 | $30.20 | $35.02 | $43.80 | $30.46 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $40,240 | $49,550 | $62,820 | $72,850 | $91,100 | $63,350 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $27.29 | $28.52 | $29.85 | $38.89 | $40.70 | $33.08 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $56,770 | $59,320 | $62,090 | $80,900 | $84,660 | $68,810 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $20.83 | $22.08 | $29.53 | $29.67 | $31.25 | $26.62 | 530 | 0.17 | 5.62 |
| Annual | $43,320 | $45,930 | $61,430 | $61,700 | $65,010 | $55,360 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $18.79 | $22.19 | $29.22 | $33.84 | $34.70 | $27.46 | 460 | 0.08 | 2.84 |
| Annual | $39,080 | $46,160 | $60,770 | $70,380 | $72,170 | $57,120 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $20.83 | $22.08 | $29.53 | $29.67 | $31.25 | $26.62 | 530 | 0.17 | 5.62 |
| Annual | $43,320 | $45,930 | $61,430 | $61,700 | $65,010 | $55,360 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.10 | $22.70 | $25.05 | $30.12 | $34.40 | $26.20 | 500 | 0.04 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $39,730 | $47,210 | $52,100 | $62,640 | $71,540 | $54,500 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $18.79 | $22.19 | $29.22 | $33.84 | $34.70 | $27.46 | 460 | 0.08 | 2.84 |
| Annual | $39,080 | $46,160 | $60,770 | $70,380 | $72,170 | $57,120 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.06 | $21.57 | $28.98 | $28.98 | $34.60 | $26.10 | 360 | 0.08 | 2.81 |
| Annual | $37,560 | $44,860 | $60,280 | $60,280 | $71,970 | $54,290 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $22.61 | $24.31 | $27.50 | $40.52 | $40.52 | $31.35 | 330 | 0.05 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $47,020 | $50,570 | $57,200 | $84,290 | $84,290 | $65,210 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $21.11 | $27.52 | $31.79 | $37.29 | $43.80 | $31.60 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $43,900 | $57,240 | $66,120 | $77,570 | $91,100 | $65,720 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $18.25 | $22.16 | $31.75 | $35.79 | $35.79 | $29.04 | 40 | 0.04 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $37,960 | $46,100 | $66,040 | $74,430 | $74,430 | $60,390 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $18.50 | $21.62 | $30.31 | $34.70 | $34.70 | $28.82 | 150 | 0.14 | 4.87 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $44,960 | $63,040 | $72,170 | $72,170 | $59,950 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.74 | $26.70 | $29.66 | $29.67 | $31.25 | $28.70 | 320 | 0.07 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $49,380 | $55,540 | $61,680 | $61,700 | $65,010 | $59,700 | ||||
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | Hourly | $18.03 | $22.23 | $28.30 | $29.21 | $29.21 | $25.32 | 40 | 0.27 | 9.16 |
| Annual | $37,500 | $46,240 | $58,870 | $60,760 | $60,760 | $52,670 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.74 | $26.70 | $29.66 | $29.67 | $31.25 | $28.70 | 320 | 0.07 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $49,380 | $55,540 | $61,680 | $61,700 | $65,010 | $59,700 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $18.50 | $21.62 | $30.31 | $34.70 | $34.70 | $28.82 | 150 | 0.14 | 4.87 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $44,960 | $63,040 | $72,170 | $72,170 | $59,950 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $23.46 | $23.46 | $28.00 | $28.47 | $37.24 | $27.90 | 150 | 0.04 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $48,790 | $48,790 | $58,240 | $59,220 | $77,450 | $58,040 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.48 | $18.86 | $21.16 | $23.90 | $25.92 | $21.70 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $38,450 | $39,230 | $44,020 | $49,710 | $53,900 | $45,130 | ||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $22.37 | $22.98 | $25.53 | $32.61 | $32.61 | $26.74 | 100 | 0.12 | 4.10 |
| Annual | $46,540 | $47,810 | $53,100 | $67,820 | $67,820 | $55,620 | ||||
Top industries employing pourers and casters, metal
Foundries employ 45.0% of pourers and casters, metal nationally (2,050 jobs) at a median $47,540 a year ($22.86 an hour), followed by Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing (19.7%) and Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (16.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundries NAICS 331500 | 2,050 | 45.0% | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing NAICS 331100 | 900 | 19.7% | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing NAICS 331400 | 750 | 16.4% | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing NAICS 331300 | 320 | 7.0% | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 180 | 3.9% | $45,930 | $22.08 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (4,560). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $45,850 for pourers and casters, metal in May 2021 and $51,810 in May 2025, with employment of 6,570 and 4,560.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $45,850 | $22.04 | 6,570 |
| May 2022 | $45,070 | $21.67 | 6,070 |
| May 2023 | $48,690 | $23.41 | 5,460 |
| May 2024 | $48,940 | $23.53 | 5,830 |
| May 2025 | $51,810 | $24.91 | 4,560 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
23 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee profile | $34.56 | $71,880 | $38,650 | $72,690 | 120 | 0.04 | 1.28 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $30.20 | $62,820 | $40,240 | $91,100 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | Florida profile | $29.85 | $62,090 | $56,770 | $84,660 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.14 |
| 4 | Indiana profile | $29.53 | $61,430 | $43,320 | $65,010 | 530 | 0.17 | 5.62 |
| 5 | Ohio profile | $29.22 | $60,770 | $39,080 | $72,170 | 460 | 0.08 | 2.84 |
| 6 | Michigan profile | $28.98 | $60,280 | $37,560 | $71,970 | 360 | 0.08 | 2.81 |
| 7 | North Carolina profile | $27.74 | $57,700 | $37,450 | $63,150 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.72 |
| 8 | Illinois profile | $27.50 | $57,200 | $47,020 | $84,290 | 330 | 0.05 | 1.83 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $26.06 | $54,210 | $47,750 | $89,170 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.80 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $25.05 | $52,100 | $39,730 | $71,540 | 500 | 0.04 | 1.22 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $25.00 | $52,010 | $36,740 | $77,080 | 60 | 0.03 | 1.05 |
| 12 | Kansas profile | $24.29 | $50,530 | $34,620 | $55,500 | 70 | 0.05 | 1.72 |
| 13 | Iowa profile | $23.56 | $49,010 | $41,690 | $63,490 | 80 | 0.05 | 1.79 |
| 14 | Missouri profile | $23.48 | $48,850 | $42,750 | $59,240 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.69 |
| 15 | Wisconsin profile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $37,580 | $67,820 | 320 | 0.11 | 3.67 |
| 16 | Alabama profile | $22.75 | $47,330 | $39,680 | $67,400 | 160 | 0.08 | 2.57 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.70 | $47,220 | $37,590 | $54,230 | 290 | 0.05 | 1.61 |
| 18 | Arkansas profile | $21.83 | $45,410 | $39,400 | $63,530 | 90 | 0.07 | 2.42 |
| 19 | Utah profile | $21.70 | $45,140 | $37,710 | $60,490 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.67 |
| 20 | California profile | $21.23 | $44,150 | $38,150 | $55,230 | 240 | 0.01 | 0.44 |
| 21 | Mississippi profile | $20.85 | $43,370 | $37,470 | $50,570 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.90 |
| 22 | Virginia profile | $18.95 | $39,420 | $31,200 | $62,970 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.46 |
| 23 | Kentucky profile | $18.65 | $38,800 | $38,800 | $68,300 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.99 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4052 Pourers and Casters, Metal.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4052, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4052.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.