# Pourers and Casters, Metal

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pourers-and-casters-metal
- SOC code: 51-4052.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $51,810 (10th percentile $38,480, 90th percentile $72,040)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.0%
- Openings a year: 400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 24 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 1 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 46 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 77/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 76/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 69/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 67/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 66/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 64/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 61/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 60/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 59/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Coordination, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Equipment Maintenance

## Knowledge

English Language, Production and Processing, Education and Training, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Mathematics, Transportation, Public Safety and Security, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology

## Also called

Aluminum Pourer, Billet Header, Brass Pourer, Buggy Ladle Tender, Bull Ladle Tender, Busher, Caster, Casting Machine Operator, Casting Operator, DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster)

## Related careers

- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rolling-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $50,140 median pay
- [Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forging-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $49,030 median pay
- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molding-coremaking-and-casting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $44,350 median pay
- [Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/metal-refining-furnace-operators-and-tenders): $54,430 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.